Benzema delivering for Real Madrid but still stuck in Ronaldo's shadow

Madrid may be looking for a striker who has scored more than 20 goals already this season, including at least five in the Champions League.

Or one that delivers on the big occasion, like a Champions League knock-out game or a crunch La Liga fixture against the league leaders.

They might also think fitness is important, someone who plays the majority of matches, and form, who may have scored something like nine goals in their last 10 games.

When Ronaldo was at the club, Benzema embraced his role of supporting actor and when Ronaldo left, he stepped up to become the lead.

And now even as Benzema has become arguably the most important player in this Madrid team, the talk is of Ronaldo returning, the idea the 36-year-old could act as a stop-gap before Kylian Mbappe or Erling Braut Haaland carry the club into a new era in 2022.