Real Madrid's Karim Benzema joins elite UEFA Champions League list headlined by Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Madrid captain Karim Benzema has joined former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo on the list of players to have made 150 UEFA Champions League appearances.
Benzema has been selected in Los Merengues' Champions League quarterfinal second leg with Chelsea on Tuesday (April 18). That will take his tally of appearances in the competition to 150 games.
He's joined by some illustrious company on the list with Real Madrid icon Cristiano Ronaldo leading the way with 183 appearances. Another Los Blancos legend, Iker Casillas, is second on 177 appearances.
PSG attacker Lionel Messi sits third with 163 appearances, while Barcelona great Xavi is fourth with 151. Benzema will have the opportunity to eclipse the latter if Madrid advance past Chelsea and into the last four.
Carlo Ancelotti's side are in pole position to progress to the semifinals. They hold a 2-0 lead on aggregate heading into the second-leg clash with the Blues. Benzema scored the opener in that win.
The Frenchman inspired Real Madrid to UEFA Champions League glory last season. He bagged a remarkable 15 goals in 12 games as Los Blancos won the competition for a record-extending14th time.
He hasn't quite followed suit this season amid injury issues but has a respectable tally of four goals in seven games. The French striker will be eager to add to that against a beleaguered Chelsea side. Benzema sits fourth in the all-time leading goalscorers in the Champions League with 90 goals.
Cristiano Ronaldo selects Real Madrid's Karim Benzema in his all-time XI
Cristiano Ronaldo has selected Karim Benzema in a team made up of his former teammates. The Frenchman is in attack and is one of seven past and present Real Madrid players to make the hypothetical team.
The Portuguese icon and Benzema forged a formidable partnership during their time together at the Santiago Bernabeu. They won the UEFA Champions League four times, including three consecutive seasons.
Benzema's place in Ronaldo's XI is merited, as he bagged 415 goal contributions in 787 games for Los Merengues. He's joined by his former Madrid teammate Gareth Bale and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney in attack.
Meanwhile, Los Blancos duo Toni Kroos and Luka Modric are partnered in midfield with Red Devils hero Paul Scholes. Ronaldo's former Juventus captain Giorgio Chiellini, United icon Rio Ferdinand and Madrid legends Sergio Ramos and Marcelo are selected in defence. Casillas has been chosen by his former Los Merengues teammate in goal.