How can you call Benzema a striker when he has played on the left flank for an extensive period this season?
Which isn't what you expect from an out-and-out striker who's expected to camp inside the box.
https://i.imgur.com/zJFQELp.png
As a comparison, look at Cristiano Ronaldo's heatmap where he spends much more time inside the penalty box compared to Benzema.
It's also why Benzema barely stays there or else they would just occupy same spaces (i.e. Morata & Cristiano from last season).
https://i.imgur.com/iH14hmf.png.
Which only illustrate that Cristiano indeed has adapted his game to become the most lethal poacher in the game since 2014-15 season.
Understandable since Benzema doesn't get many chances to shoot per game.
Since you think of him as a striker, (which I disagree), let's compare him with other out-and-out strikers in Europe from this season. From Whoscored...
Every single one of them are the receiving end & where they play closest to the goal while averaging almost 3+ shots or higher. Very understandable why they're scoring so many goals. Which makes it ridiculous to compare them with Benzema who doesn't even have the role as an out-and-out striker to beguin with in the first place.
Benzema is important for facilitating Real Madrid's general collective play and not necessary for just for any particular player (although I do agree with you that Ronaldo benefits a lot when Benzema is on the field).
Elaborate why Messi's WC 2014 tournament isn't comparable of what Maradona did in WC 86 based on their individual performaces?Dafuq
How's that different when people regulary compare players from other eras?[/QUOTE]