Steven Gerrard decided: Faced with all the scorers that were offered to him, only one surpassed Luis Suárez in his heart … Karim Benzema.
There are simple gestures that say a lot. On the occasion of a game proposed by an influencer, Steven Gerrard lent himself to a symbolic face-to-face between the best attackers in the world. The principle? Two scorers compete, one is eliminated, the other continues. And in this exercise, Gerrard has long displayed unfailing loyalty to his former Liverpool teammate, Luis Suárez. Even Mohamed Salah, hero of Anfield, or monsters like Haaland and Lewandowski failed to make him change his mind.
But a name has changed everything. When the name of Karim Benzema was mentioned, Steven Gerrard did not hesitate. For him, the former Captain of Real Madrid deserves to be enthroned at the top. And in a few seconds, Suárez, his friend, was relegated to the background. This moment of sincerity is anything but trivial: he embodies the colossal impact left by Benzema in world football. Seeing him surpass Salah, Lewandowski, Haaland or Kane in the minds of a monument like Gerrard is not trivial. It is even a tribute of rare intensity.
Gerrard bows: Benzema at the top
The explanation is undoubtedly found in the unique profile of the Golden Ball 2022. Both a surgical scorer, hidden playmaker and collective player, Benzema is a summary of technical elegance and tactical intelligence. Its longevity in Real Madrid, its central role in the successes of the club in the 2010s, its ability to make others shine … All of this has probably appealed to a ball man like Gerrard, who knows the value of subtlety and play between lines.
Gerrard contrasts: Benzema, the largest of scorers
And since Benzema joined Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, Gerrard (formerly coach of Al Ettifaq) faced it several times. Difficult, no doubt, to remain insensitive to his class in the field, even under another latitude. Perhaps this face-to-face reinforced its admiration and validated its choice.
This beautiful tribute speaks volumes about the aura of Benzema. And in a world where comparisons are fused, seeing an English player in the stature of Gerrard bowing, it is a powerful praise. But with Benzema, everything always seems a little bigger. A little more noble.
