Calling one of the most patient footballers in this modern era, it seems, cannot be separated from the name of Karim Benzema. Benzema's patience can be recorded in the last ten years at his club, Real Madrid, and in the French national team.

Benzema has played with Real Madrid since 2009. He plays as a pure striker. Goal after goal is certainly expected to be born from this player born in Lyon, France, December 19, 1987.

But the arrival of Benzema to Real Madrid in 2009 coincided with Cristiano Ronaldo, the Manchester United superstar who has also won the title of world's best player (Ballon d'Or). As a result, for the sake of the team's needs and the coach's request, Benzema had no problem serving Ronaldo on the front lines. Although actually Ronaldo is not a pure striker type like him.

Season after season, Benzema looks patient to serve Ronaldo. Naturally, for nine seasons defending Madrid, Ronaldo was so fertile, netting the ball.

Ronaldo recorded a total of 760 goals before he decided to move to Juventus in 2018. Of the hundreds of goals, Benzema became Ronaldo's best servant by providing 47 assists. No other Real Madrid player can provide that many assists. Not only that, Ronaldo also won four more Ballon d'Or titles while in Real Madrid's uniform.

It is only natural that Ronaldo's name is brighter than Benzema's for nine years at Real Madrid. Even the public more often compares Ronaldo's sharpness with other superstars in Spanish La Liga, Lionel Messi.

With Barcelona, ​​Messi won six Ballon d'Or titles and always competed tightly in the race for the top scorer aka el pichichi La Liga. Meanwhile, Benzema has yet to become La Liga's top scorer.

Since mid-2021, Messi has left for French club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). There are no more names of Messi and Ronaldo in La Liga.

Benzema, who has been patient since a dozen years ago, now seems to take on a role to become a La Liga star. It's not a strange thing. He has the qualities he deserves to do it.

As a team, no one doubts Benzema's contribution to Real Madrid. He has won three La Liga titles, four Champions League titles, two Spanish Super Cups, two Copa Del Rey titles and four European Super Cups at the Santiago Bernabeu. So what about individually?

It didn't take long, individual records were finally born from Benzema's feet and heads. At 33 years old, Benzema is enjoying the best moment of his career.

Benzema is by far the most foreign player in the number of appearances for Real Madrid, which is 564 matches. The number is more than Ronaldo who had played 438 matches while defending Los Blancos. Benzema's total titles with Madrid are of course now also more than Ronaldo's.

Even at the start of the 2021/2022 season, Benzema did something that Ronaldo and Messi couldn't do. When Los Blancos beat Mallorca, 23 September 2021, Benzema managed to record two goals and two assists. In total he recorded 8 goals and 7 assists in his opening 6 games and became the first La Liga player in history to achieve this record, and the first player in the 21st century to do so.

Benzema has now scored 200 goals in La Liga and is the 10th player in La Liga to reach that goal. Indeed, the former Lyon player has never won the el pichichi trophy in his career in La Liga, even though he is already in the top 10 of La Liga's top scorers.

But in the absence of Messi and Ronaldo, this season may be Benzema's best chance to win the trophy. Moreover, so far he is still the top scorer in La Liga with 9 goals.

Not only at club level, but in the French national team, Benzema's patience is also being tested. Benzema is the youngest player to make his debut with the French national team, before his record was broken by Kylian Mbappe. He made his first appearance for France at the age of 19 years 3 months 9 days.

At that time France played against Austria in a friendly match, March 28, 2007. The match became a sweet debut for Benzema because he managed to score the only winning goal for France.

But disaster has occurred since 2015 after he was suspected of being involved in a blackmail case against his former team-mate, Mathieu Valbuena. The French Football Federation (FFF) then gave him a suspension, although so far the allegations have not been proven.

As a result of the case, Benzema was ignored by the coach of the French national team, Didier Deschamps. No kidding, Benzema can no longer strengthen France for six years. He also missed the opportunity when France lifted the 2018 World Cup trophy in Russia.

Benzema never complains. He remains focused on giving his best at club level with Real Madrid. At a later date or rather in 2021, Benzema's patience paid off. He was finally called up again by Deschamps to strengthen for France at Euro 2020 in June 2021.

But unfortunately, Benzema, who actually appeared impressive by scoring four goals in the tournament, still failed to give the title to France. Les Bleus were eliminated in the round of 16 by Switzerland on penalties.

But it did not take long for Benzema to present the title for his country. A few weeks later, this Muslim player led France to win the second edition of the UEFA Nations League trophy.

In the final on Sunday, 10 October 2021, Benzema played an important role in scoring the equalizer a few seconds after Spain had taken the lead. He made a total of 2 shots, 42 touches, 86 percent passes, 4 key passes, 2 dribbles and helped the team with 2 tackles. France won 2-1 over Spain to embrace the title. The European Football Federation (UEFA) also named Benzema as the best player for this match.

Benzema has proven himself, patience coupled with hard work and never giving up in the future again raised his prestige as a top footballer. It is not impossible, even though he is no longer young, the Ballon d'Or title could come to him.