At the age when most players are thinking about their post-career, he is at the top of his game and can dream, as in 2022, of a new galactic spring.

At Camp Nou, the Ballon d'Or became the first player in Madrid's rich history to score at least 20 goals in 11 seasons. In front of Ronaldo.

"The work he did during the international break helped him a lot," coach Carlo Ancelotti said. He is in optimal physical condition, and with the qualities he has, he creates differences. He remains one of the best players in the world. Not just one of the best strikers. He's one of the best players in the world right now."

A peak of form that occurs at the time of the return of matches to leave or double, and which reassures after several physical glitches.

At the end of his contract on June 30, the ex-Lyonnais has already negotiated his one-year extension at Real. According to the Spanish press, his 2023-2024 season could be his last in Madrid, which has already signed Brazilian prodigy Endrick and is still looking to seduce Erling Haaland, after the snub Kylian Mbappe.

Three days after his hat-trick against Valladolid (6-0) in La Liga and three weeks after his goal against Liverpool to lift Real to the quarter-finals of the Champions League against Chelsea, Benzema shows that we must always count on him.

Historical

Before him, only the legend Ferenc Puskas had managed the feat, on January 27, 1963, to achieve a hat-trick for the Blaugrana wearing the merengue jersey.

Karim Benzema scores one of his three goals for Real Madrid against FC Barcelona, in the semi-final second leg of the Copa del Rey, on April 5, 2023 at Camp Nou © Pau BARRENA / AFP

His performance propelled Real to historic success: it was the biggest victory for the "White House" in a clasico since the 5-0 in 1995, and their biggest victory at Camp Nou since the 5-1 in 1963.

"What a demonstration!" headlined Marca, Spain's best-selling newspaper, highlighting the hat-trick of a "Benzema of the big nights", with a photo of the Frenchman, sliding, fists clenched.

"Three and a half goals" of Benzema, slipped the Madrid daily As on its front page under a photo of the Ballon d'Or, eyes closed and mouth laughing.

Knighted by the press and the fans, Benzema is also in the dressing room. After the match, he was seen being given the captain's armband around his biceps by Nacho, clapping with Vinicius, and hopping, shirtless, in the arms of David Alaba, shouting "Así, así, así gana el Madrid!" ("This is how Real Madrid win!", in Spanish).

"Karim is a spectacular player, a global crack. He has been here for 14 years, and he continues to score goals year after year, he remains Real's unstoppable N.9. I hope he stays," teammate Lucas Vazquez said after Sunday's win over Valladolid.

Objective Istanbul

After his fantastic 2021-2022 season that earned him the supreme individual award, the "Nueve" has struggled to find his rhythm this season, hampered by multiple physical glitches in his legs and ankles, which caused him to miss the World Cup with the France team, from which he definitively took leave in December, and a total of 13 matches with Real since the start of the 2022-2023 season.

In his absence, Lionel Messi has climbed on top of the world in Qatar and it seems difficult to deprive him of an 8th Ballon d'Or. But one scenario would reshuffle the cards: if Benzema won a second consecutive Champions League, on June 10 in Istanbul.

"And why not?" exclaimed Ancelotti when asked by a reporter if his player could win a new individual Grail.

© 2023 AFP