“Don’t Confuse F1 with go karting” are the words being echoed by Real Madrid hitman Karim Benzema, after being asked to compare himself to Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud on instagram live. In light of the world wide quarantine, France international Karim Benzema has found the time to make headlines with his compatriot Olivier Giroud and spark controversy over whether or not Benzema is the F1 car or the Go Kart.
Combined, the two French Strikers have won nearly every trophy there is to win. A World Cup, 4x Champions League titles, the Europa League, twelve domestic cups, and seven league titles across three different leagues. It’s safe to say both players have had successful careers. Despite all this, Benzema still believes the World Cup winner Giroud isn’t even in his class, referring to him as a “go-kart”. This has been seen as disrespect, and jealousy of a former teammate winning the greatest trophy in our beloved sport. How could Benzema think that he is levels above a player chosen over him for their international team. A player who helped their national team win the World Cup while he was at home watching?
Benzema’s remarks start a deeper conversation than just two players in the same position fighting whether who’s better but rather two players who’ve had different careers, and virtually different accomplishments. This brings up the debate of what is more important, club success or international success?
It’s safe to say that Benzema has had a more illustrious club career. Dominating the French league with Lyon winning the title four times is an incredible feat on its own, but taking his career to the next level by making a move to Real Madrid and winning four UEFA Champions League titles and placing himself as Real Madrid’s all-time assist leader are achievements that put him in a class with very few. While Giroud has sustained great accomplishments in his club career, it’s hard to compare one Europa league medal, to four Champions League medals.
Olivier Giroud has the upper hand over him with his World Cup medal, widely considered the highest achievement in the sport. Third all-time in goals for France, Giroud’s best abilities as a striker may not be putting the ball in the back of the net, instead is mental qualities off the pitch. After not registering a single shot on target during the World Cup he wasn’t dropped from the starting eleven, instead he was praised for his value of leadership and professionalism to help lead a young French team win the trophy. These qualities aren’t something that shows up in the stat sheet but rather in the win and loss column when talent alone isn’t enough to get the result. While Giroud may not be seen as prolific of a goal scorer as Benzema, he is third all-time in goals scored for France ahead of Benzema and has a real possibility to move ahead on the list only being eleven goals behind the legend Thierry Henry.
Benzema’s remarks have rightfully struck a nerve with football fans across social media and globe. Whether or not he’s right to stake his claim as a F1 car is left to each opinion on their own. Maybe club accomplishments can overmatch international feats, some players truly don’t feel the same nationalism as we’d like to believe and playing for a boyhood club and becoming a hero is a respectable dream. However the World Cup is still the greatest trophy in the sport, and while Giroud may very well just be a Go- Kart, he recently said himself, “ I am a World Cup winning Go-Kart”. Benzema won’t be able to take his F1 on that track anytime soon.
By David Valley
Edited by Dami Adeleye