Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane hailed his forward Karim Benzema as the best French striker of all time after his two goals helped them beat a stubborn Athletic Bilbao 3-1 at home on Tuesday in La Liga.
Madrid played the final 77 minutes with an extra man after Raul Garcia's early red card, but the visitors did not make life easy for the champions and Ander Capa scored in the second half to cancel out Toni Kroos's opening strike.
Benzema, however, showed his class late in the game, restoring Madrid's lead by heading in a Dani Carvajal cross before rounding off the victory by finishing off a rapid counterattack in added time.
The coach was asked if his compatriot was the best French striker ever after the game and he had no doubts.
"For me he is the best, because he has spent so long at Real Madrid and he keeps proving himself," Zidane told a news conference.
"He has played over 500 games and scored so many goals. His achievements and honours speak for themselves. For me he is the best, of course."
"He is a more complete player now than he used to be. He is not a pure number nine, he doesn't just think about scoring goals and that's what I love about him," Zidane added.
"He loves to combine with his team mates and create chances for them but he also knows how to score goals and he does that when the team needs him the most like he did today. That's what Karim is all about."
Latest Stories
-
There must be serious introspection on petitions to remove the Chief Justice- Prof Agyeman-Duah
10 minutes -
Ghana Chief Justice Suspension: Nation Grapples with Separation of Powers
13 minutes -
WHO, AMMREN and GHS urge media to champion immunisation during African vaccination week
23 minutes -
CJ’s suspension: Why aren’t other judges facing removal? – Ex Deputy A.G. fumes
48 minutes -
CJ’s Suspension: Prima facie establishment has no basis – Ex Deputy A.G
1 hour -
ASFC 2025: Ghana U-15 girls promise to ‘kill themselves’ in final against Uganda
1 hour -
Pope Francis: Mourners reminded of his call to ‘build bridges not walls’
2 hours -
Telecel’s short notice to increase broadband price unfair – CUTS International
2 hours -
ASFC 2025: CAF concludes Young Reporters Workshop in Accra
2 hours -
IMF projects 4% growth rate for Ghana in 2025
3 hours -
Livestream: Newsfile discusses suspension of CJ and galamsey
3 hours -
ASFC 2025: CAF President Dr Motsepe arrives in Ghana for finals and key meetings
3 hours -
Plan International Ghana applauds government’s move to tackle menstrual poverty
3 hours -
+233 hosts Int. Jazz Day concert on May 3
3 hours -
Finance Minister meets IFC MD to deepen cooperation in key sectors
4 hours