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Where does Karim Benzema rank among the best French players in history?

By Manas Pratim Sharma

Real Madrid, Karim Benzema, Zinedine Zidane (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
Real Madrid, Karim Benzema, Zinedine Zidane (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Thierry Henry, Arsenal/France (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Thierry Henry, Arsenal/France (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

6. Thierry Henry

One of the greatest goal-scorers France had ever produced, Thierry Henry was instrumental in the World Cup-winning campaign in 1998 and the European Championship win in 2000. He still holds the record of being the highest scorer for Les Bleus of all time with 51 goals. But, I think players like Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, and Karim Benzema have a clear chance at surpassing his tally.

Henry could easily say that he had an equally impressive record at the club level. While his time at AS Monaco prepared him and his time at Juventus made him a sought-after player, it was truly his time at Arsenal that he exploded as one of France’s greatest of all time. He won seven major titles with the Gunners alongside being the highest goal scorer in gunners’ history with 228 goals and the most assists (106). He then went to FC Barcelona in 2007 and won the sextuple with them in 2009. To summarize, titles were never a scarcity for the great Henry.

France, Karim Benzema
France, Karim Benzema (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images) /

5. Karim Benzema

Thierry Henry, in my opinion, was overtaken as the greatest goal-scoring French player in history very recently. And, the man dispossessing him of the position is none other than Real Madrid’s talisman, Karim Benzema. Benzema is the only player on this list who has a chance at improving his position on the list in another couple of years when I’d like to redo the list.

Benzema is making all sorts of headway at 34 years of age. He is aging finer and finer like wine. With Real Madrid’s latest title in Saudi Arabia last weekend, Benzema has now won 28 major honors at the club level and one International title in the Nations League which makes him the most decorated French player of all time.

If anything is lacking that is a major International trophy and a Ballon d’Or. This year, he deserved a podium finish but instead, he finished only fourth in the rankings. He’ll look to better that in the coming year and has won a title and scored 24 goals in all competitions alongside 9 assists for Los Blancos already.

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