Karim Benzema reacts to Saudi Pro League Golden Boot battle with Cristiano Ronaldo - as former Real Madrid team-mates maintain prolific form at Al-Ittihad & Al-Nassr

Ex-France international Benzema, who is now 37 years of age, followed one-time Santiago Bernabeu colleague Ronaldo to the Middle East in 2023. He has hit 33 goals through 52 appearances for Al-Ittihad, with 15 of those efforts recorded in the Saudi top-flight this season.

Said haul leaves the Frenchman just one effort adrift of five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo – who is still going strong at Al-Nassr after taking in his 40th birthday. The Portuguese is maintaining remarkable standards when it comes to end product.

With two household names scrapping it out for top scorer honours, Benzema has told the Saudi Pro League’s official website: "I want to say something: me, I'm not this guy to think to the score goals, score goals. It’s good to be there with Cristiano but, for me, the more important, it's to win the game. So, if I can score more goals for my team, I'm happy."

Pressed further on whether he takes greater pleasure from teeing goals up for others than he does scoring them himself, Benzema added: "I enjoy football to make goals, to make assists, to help my team. Because the team is the more important for me. So, I'm happy."

Al-Ittihad sit top of the Saudi Pro League through 20 matches. They are four points clear of Al-Hilal, who recently released Brazilian superstar Neymar, and eight ahead of Al-Nassr – with Ronaldo struggling to land major silverware during his time in Riyadh.