In all the fuss made over Karim Benzema elevating himself to fifth in Real Madrid's all-time scoring list and Sergio Ramos' latest goals making him La Liga's most prolific defender, there's an important stat that has been given zero attention. But it also involves Madrid's brilliant French hybrid striker.
Since Cristiano Ronaldo left, abruptly, for Juventus in the summer of 2018, Los Blancos have won three trophies; it's foolish for anyone to try to claim that they've been a mess without him. However it's widely felt that there's a direct correlation between CR7 leaving and Madrid suddenly becoming mortal in the competition they've dominated in recent history: the Champions League. Nor were they, last season, even vaguely competitive in the race for the Spanish title.
Since Ronaldo packed his bags and added a new kit to his collection, there has been a suspicion -- and even some finger-pointing -- that Madrid's remaining players shrank in his absence, that they felt reduced without their longtime prince of the penalty box. The revolving door that has whisked coaches in and out has also made both Valdebebas and the Santiago Bernabeu hard, thankless, unforgiving places of work.
In 2018, Zinedine Zidane left, of his own accord, in search of regenerated energy after winning three Champions Leagues. From the Frenchman's point of view it constituted a little warning to his president, Florentino Perez, that: "If you want things your way, not mine, then you'll have to sail the ship without me."
Julen Lopetegui, pretty miserably, was in and out in a matter of weeks as his replacement, the Basque's opportunity to win the World Cup as Spain coach left in tatters. Santi Solari -- bright, articulate, modern, obstinately wedded to a set of clear playing principles -- arrived (and soon left again), asked to bail his club out of extremely stormy waters, cast aside as soon as Perez grew weary of being patient. Back came Zidane, initially to grave doubts about whether or not second comings were visionary or vexed.
Throughout all this, with the consistency of a metronome, Benzema stepped up to the plate. Despite a football club's version of chaos around him, despite suddenly playing an entirely different role to the "domestique" characteristics he'd adopted in order to help team leader Ronaldo flourish, despite massive new responsibility and pressure -- while surrounded by a midfield that was putting in some paper-thin performances last season -- the Frenchman has now amassed the superb total of 52 goals since he, and his club, said adios to their No. 7 nearly two full seasons ago.
