Real Madrid Superstar Beats Ronaldo To Equal Messi In Elite Champions League Record [Watch]

Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema equaled FC Barcelona captain Lionel Messi in an elite Champions League record by scoring in his side’s 2-2 draw against Borrusia Monchengladbach Tuesday.

By scoring Real Madrid’s first goal at Borrusia-Park, Benzema became only the second player after Messi to have scored in 16 Champions League seasons. Overall, Benzema was the third player to score in 16 different Champions League campaigns after Messi and Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who was Benzema’s teammate at Santiago Bernabeu for nine years before moving to Juventus in the 2018 summer, is yet to make an appearance in the Champions League in the 2020-21 campaign. Ronaldo, who is still recovering after being tested COVID-19 positive twice, will be looking to score in his 15th straight Champions League season.

Out of the 16 consecutive Champions League seasons, Benzema’s first four successive seasons were at French club Lyon, where the 32-year-old striker made his first-team debut in 2004 and went on to play for them until 2009. Benzema and Ronaldo made their respective switch from Lyon and Manchester United to Real Madrid ahead of the 2009-10 seasons and the rest was history as the two formed a fruitful partnership at the club’s front-line.

The 13-time champions Real Madrid have had a poor start to the 2020-21 Champions League campaign, having lost their opening fixture 2-3 to Shakhtar Donetsk at home.

Even against Gladbach Tuesday, Real Madrid were trailing 2-0 before Benzema scored at the 87th minute before Casemiro netted an extra-time equalizer for Los Blancos.

Benzema, who is still leading the line for Zinedine Zidane’s side, scored 27 goals in the 2019-20 season, having played 48 matches and led Real Madrid to a stunning La Liga title triumph ahead of their arch-rivals FC Barcelona. In the ongoing campaign, Benzema has so far managed two goals in eight games.