Where does Karim Benzema rank on the all-time scoring list for Real Madrid?
Karim Benzema is one goal short of matching Raúl’s total for Real Madrid in a record-breaking season for the France striker.
Karim Benzema is enjoying a record-breaking season for Real Madrid and is on the verge of sealing his first Pichichi award as the season’s top scorer in LaLiga as well as doing the same in the Champions League, where he has already ensured he will end the campaign as the most prolific marksman in Europe’s elite club competition having found the net 15 times. Should the Frenchman repeat his recent penchant for Champions League hat-tricks in the final against Liverpool, he would break Cristiano Ronaldo’s single-season record of 17 in the competition and one in the Stade de France would move him above Robert Lewandowski into third place outright in the all-time standing behind only Ronaldo and Leo Messi.
Against Levante on Thursday evening, Benzema also has the opportunity to cement his legacy at Real Madrid further still. Should he find the net against the Valencian side, he will move up to joint-second on the all-time scoring list for Madrid, level with Raúl on 323 goals. Few would bet against it: Benzema has bagged 43 in 43 appearances in 2021-22, eclipsing his previous best tally of 32 set in 2011-12 under the tutelage of José Mourinho. Across the current campaign, Benzema has scored at a rate of a goal every 85 minutes.
Since the departure of Ronaldo, for whom Benzema acted as a foil, the Frenchman has exceeded all expectations in front of the sticks. When Ronaldo and Benzema were teammates, the number nine scored 192 goals across nine seasons (412 appearances). Since the Portuguese left the Bernabéu, he has hit 130 in 190 games.
Real Madrid top scorers
- 1 Cristiano 450
- 2 Raúl 323
- 3 Benzema 322
- 4 Di Stéfano 308
- 5 Santillana 290
- 6 Puskas 242
- 7 Hugo Sánchez 208
- 8 Gento 182
- 9 Pirri 172
- 10 Butragueño 171
Benzema has been the highest scorer in every season since he assumed the mantle of the attacking leader, scoring 30 in 2018-19, 27 in 2019-20 and 30 last season. During that time he moved ahead of legendary Madrid players including Hugo Sánchez and Ferenc Puskas, and this season he overtook Santillana and the great Alfredo Di Stéfano.
With four games of the season left, Benzema is in electric form and in all likelihood will tick off Raúl on the scoring list as well, while also targeting the Champions League title. In his last 14 games, the Frenchman has scored 19 times.