Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema has set a La Liga record which even the great Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi can’t match - nor are they likely to.
Frenchman Benzema was on the scoresheet in the 3-2 win over Huesca last night meaning he has now scored against every La Liga team he has faced - all 34 of them.
Ronaldo scored against 32 from 33 opponents - Leganes proving the jinx team to spoil the set - while Messi has failed to find the net against three teams - Cadiz, Murcia and Huesca.
It's a record Messi is unlikely to get the chance to match given Murcia are now in the third tier while Cadiz find themselves in the Segunda Division though they have an outside chance of promotion.
Benzema’s 18th goal of the season and 215th for the club was a timely one too, helping his side come from behind against the newly promoted team. He struck a minute from time as Real won 3-2.
The previous record was held by another Real Madrid player, Hugo Sanchez though Raul has scored against 35 different teams, failing to score against four clubs.
There has been additional pressure on Benzema’s shoulders this season following the departure of Ronaldo but he has enjoyed one of his best runs of recent years. He has already scored more than double the number of goals this season than he managed last term.
Manchester City star Sergio Aguero is one club away from achieving something similar in the Premier League and the team in question may surprise you.
The Argentinian has scored against 29 from 30 of the teams he has faced but he has never scored against Championship strugglers Bolton Wanderers. Aguero played 68 minutes against the Trotters in 2011 but could not find the net. It’s a record he’s not likely to complete given their current predicament.
Benzema is often talked about as being in the final seasons of his career at Real Madrid but he's still 31. He joined the Spanish giants in 2009 from Lyon for an estimated €35million and had made more than 305 appearances, scoring 141 goals. He has netted 14 times this season which is his best return since 2015-16 when he got 24 goals.
Returning Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane was full of praise for Benzema's record and the way he has shown glimpses of his best form since he returned to the dugout.
