Benzema and Ibrahimovic: Character, Destiny and Their Legends

This weekend, Benzema left Real Madrid.

And Ibrahimovic retired.

To borrow Eevee's phrase: When he comes, he is king, and the legend leaves.

Two geniuses withdrew from the mainstream stage – only, in different ways.

are all great centers of the times, let me make a comparison:

During his club career, Benzema scored 435 goals in 816 games and Ibrahimovic scored 511 goals in 866 games.

Just went a different way.

Benzema has won five Champions Leagues, the fourth in Champions League history with 90 goals – 12 Lyon, 78 Real Madrid.

Ibrahimovic has not won the Champions League and has scored 48 goals, representing Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona, AC Milan and Paris.

Lyon, 2007. That year Benzema was named by Henry as the heir to the French striker; But when Benzema was interviewed by France 2, he did not say "Oh, I love Henry the most", but said:

"My favorite player is Ronaldo!"

- Not Ronaldo, who he will partner in the future, refers to aliens.

In 2018, he said it again: for him, aliens are the best strikers in history. He tried watching alien videos, trying to do his things, but it wasn't easy.

He knew he didn't have alien talent, "I couldn't do something like that." ”

Indeed, the alien's incredible explosive power at high speed, Benzema could not do.

But it doesn't prevent him from aiming for this and training as an all-round hexagonal forward:

Strong, fast, all-round, running, tactic, wing, center, sensitive, wide vision, superb footwork.

It also did not prevent the Lyon media from calling him the new Ronaldo that year.

At the age of 20 and a half, Benzema has won his fourth Ligue 1 title (five in total) and is also the top scorer in Ligue 1.

This is who he used to be:

A teenage French genius who wants to be an alien - although he often nags, he plays football for the French team and has Algeria in mind.

Ibrahimovic has been at Ajax for more than three years and has scored 48 goals in 110 games. Ajax were star-studded: old Litmanning, young Sneijder and van der Vaart, but Ibrahimovic was still the brightest. What scorpion swings its tail upside down with a golden hook and plays as you like; How many old Dutch fans chanted: "O Van Basten! ”

After winning two titles in the Netherlands, he started to play in Serie A: Juventus, Inter Milan...

When Benzema first arrived at Real Madrid in the 2009-10 season, Spaniards did not care how many people praised him as an alien in Lyon; The nickname given to him by Marca was:

New Anelka.

- Fans who know Anel Kanad's sex naturally know that this is not all praise.

By the second year of Real Madrid, his club coach Jose Mourinho and national team manager Blank sang a chorus:

"Benzema had to understand that talent alone is not enough! You have to have an attitude! ”

"Benzema has to lose weight!"

For many young geniuses, this wall is enough to break the head and bleed.

In the summer of 2011, Benzema lost 8 kilograms and built muscles.

The following season, he became a Real Madrid starter, scoring 21 sporting goals in the league.

After that we all knew:

Cristiano Ronaldo has made many transformations: from Manchester United's right winger to the arrow, to the left winger at the beginning of Madrid, to the box finisher under Zinedine Zidane. Behind Ronaldo's transformation is Benzema's adaptation.

When Cristiano Ronaldo plays as a left winger for 433 or 4231, Benzema is the arrow's centre.

When Zidane transformed Cristiano Ronaldo into one of the two strikers, Benzema was Ronaldo's wingman.

Or a wingman whose role is constantly changing.

In the 2015-16 season, Cristiano Ronaldo is known for 16 goals in 12 Champions League games. That year, Ronaldo scored 29 goals in 3,183 minutes of sports in La Liga, and Benzema scored 24 goals in 1979 minutes.

Two years later, the year of the third consecutive Champions League, Benzema famously scored only five goals in the league, and everyone was used to "blame Benzema!" But Benzema's 2.3 shots per game that year was only half of what he had been two years earlier, and he had 10 league assists to finish fourth in La Liga, ahead of 12 assists from Messi, Suarez and Fornals. Not to mention how many times he pulled the running position that year and opened up the gap for Ronaldo's grab.

His position that year, in the words of Santiago Sigro of Marca, "9 and a half." ”

A No. 9 center who used to love aliens has played in Baggio's position.

While Cristiano Ronaldo is a left-ribbed inner cut to attack the striker, Benzema is a 433/4231 striker.

When Ronaldo is a two-striker penalty area machine, Benzema is a false number 9 and a half is a number 9 and a half.

After Cristiano Ronaldo's departure, Benzema became the heart of Real Madrid's attack: 30, 27, 30, 44 (fifth Champions League, Ballon d'Or), 31 in the last five years.

During the Lyon period, he wanted to be an alien, a genius who arrived at a young age.

When he first arrived at Real Madrid, he was complained that he only relied on genius and refused to work hard.

Real Madrid center forward who killed all sides after losing weight.

Cristiano Ronaldo's perfect wingman in the third consecutive Champions League.

A mainstay of Real Madrid in the past four years, the fifth Champions League winner.

How many people arrive young, as soon as they hit the wall in the giants, Benzema has time to lose weight and rebuild muscles, and has time to transform and change.

Benzema adores aliens and is well aware of the horrors of alien talents, "I can't do anything like that." ”

But since Benzema began to lose weight eleven years ago, from the little fat man who wanted to be an alien but was called "the new Anelka" by the Madrid media, to the backhorse who kept transforming the team, he has come to the present.

At the age of 34 and a half, the alien retired as a fat luo.

Of course, a fabulous career was left: the national team's two-time World Cup winner (one substitute and one top scorer) and one World Cup runner-up (Ballon d'Or, although the final was notoriously erratic) combined 62 goals and the club 352.

Benzema does not have legends such as alien World Cup winners and 8 goals in a single edition, but has five Champions Leagues, as well as 435 goals in 816 career games and 37 goals for the national team; At the age of his retirement, Benzema scored 44 goals in a single season and won his fifth Champions League and Ballon d'Or.

He chose to pursue victory and honor as a team member, and it lasted longer.

On the other side, Ibrahimovic.

Benzema and Real Madrid, and the Champions League, are closely related. He lost weight for Real Madrid and worked as a wingman for Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ibrahimovic wanders around as he pleases, is the protagonist wherever he goes, and is a lifelong susuke. He can play professionally, but he's Ibrahimovic first.

During his time at Barca, he offended a whole bunch of people with his big mouth. When he left, he said: "Guardiola is a philosopher. He destroyed my dream of playing for Barca. Whenever I went into the dressing room, he was far away from me. I don't know if he was afraid or what. I'm so happy that I was able to go to Milan and my career turned upside down in 24 hours... Is this what Guardiola probably wants to see? ”

Moratti openly said he didn't want him to come to AC Milan at the time, but he came anyway – and later in Paris, he was so willful.

So, be benevolent:

Benzema has been in solidarity with Real Madrid and has won five Champions Leagues.

Ibrahimovic doesn't have a Champions League but is comfortable everywhere.

I was in Paris and watched Ibrahimovic for four seasons.

In Paris, when people talk about it, it's easy to say "go see the Saint-Germain ball" to "Go see Ibrahimovic!" ”

Because of the Ligue 1, there is basically no suspense at home in Paris, and everyone has a joyful atmosphere; Champions Cup, such as "Let's go see Real Madrid", that is a bit of a lively feeling, the focus is not on Saint-Germain; So in the end, it's still "look at Ibrahimovic".

Yes, in 2013-16, "going to see Ibrahimovic was a particularly happy thing".

Outsiders recognize him at a glance: he is tall and tall, and his footwork can be seen at a glance to be different from others; The ball dribbling is superior, and one kick should constitute the front court system of Paris Saint-Germain; This man can point all kinds of balls that are not opportunities, but he has a temper and is easily upset; Lazy when unhappy; This man is lazy and very threatening on the field.

Eevee is like a child, talent and temper are on the face, unconcealed, outsiders can see it at a glance.

Saint-Germain had many good players, but the fun of watching Ibrahimovic in those years was unparalleled.

His running distance fluctuates with emotions; His expression is more pompous after each missed opportunity; When he is not happy, he will stand still, or tie his shoelaces; But you don't know what kind of ball he's going to kick in the next second.

Tissi's clearance, Pastor's pulling the ball, Lucas' acceleration on the wing and Cavani's pressing up front always get the most applause, and Ibrahimovic... He is the heart of that Parisian team.

He certainly has shortcomings. For example, every time before and after the Champions Cup match, everyone will frown: with Ibrahimovic there, there will be less frontcourt pressing; With Ibrahimovic around, Edinson Cavani can always only play on the left or even as a substitute; With Ibrahimovic present, the other side also knows that Saint-Germain's routine is to speed up to the corner of the penalty area on both sides, and it is even difficult to play effective two wings inside; Of course, Ibrahimovic does work, as long as he gives the ball to his feet, he can scare his opponent regardless of the opportunity...

How to say it? Ibrahimovic is a not very sticky ball, but needs the ball very much in the front of the field; is a performer who is obviously a head taller than everyone, but is more willing to stop the ball with gorgeous and enchanting high-difficulty movements. Benzema can play as a wingman for Cristiano Ronaldo, Suarez can play with Messi, Ibrahimovic is Ibrahimovic: he is in Paris, Cavani has to be on the left.

But watching Ibrahimovic play was really fun.

When Paris Saint-Germain won the title in 2013, there was a big celebration near the Arc de Triomphe, the third title in Paris' history. Then three years later, Paris won three more titles, four in a row. It was Ibrahimovic who got Paris used to the league title.

But every year when the Champions League is eliminated, there are always fans shouting on the tram on the return journey:

"One day Ibrahimovic is in Paris, we can't win the Trophy!"

Paris loves Ibrahimovic. He is the system of the team and we have to accept his strengths and weaknesses. And, very importantly, because of Ibrahimovic, Paris Saint-Germain can have a good sense of self, "Real Madrid have Cristiano Ronaldo? Do Barca have Messi, Neymar and Suarez? We have Eevee! ”

An old fan he often met at Kebab told me that before Ibrahimovic came, "We envied Benzema in Lyon, we envied Hazard in Lille. Now we don't have to envy, we have Ibrahimovic - although he has so many problems, we have Ibrahimovic! How handsome! ”

This subtle, twisted, fan pride.

Ibrahimovic played his last league match at the Stade des Princes on May 14, 2016. Paris Saint-Germain vs Nantes.

The fans in front of my seat bought Ibrahimovic masks and wore them.

When Ibrahimovic appeared, the audience chanted "Thank you, Zlatan." ”

In the tenth minute, a free kick was taken and the game was suspended again. "10th minute. Thank you, number 10, Zlatan. "The audience sang again. The Nantes player was a little, "What the hell, this is?!" ”

Saint-Germain's whole squad was playing for Ibrahimovic and Nantes understood it, so Ibrahimovic started offside. Lucas finally found the right flank with a steady start on the back spot, and Ibrahimovic started with a chest billiard goal: 37th goal in the league this season.

The fans went crazy.

Then it was 2-0, then at the start of the second half, Ibrahimovic took a free kick and the goalkeeper was taken off and it was added to make it 3-0. The fans continue to go crazy.

By the end of the game, when it was time to replace Ibrahimovic, Coach Blank did not move. We got it, Ibrahimovic was going to play the whole game. Then, in the 89th minute, Ibrahimovic scored: 38th in the league.

Too perfect ending.

Then the game stopped again. Ibrahimovic's two children, wearing Paris Saint-Germain's jersey and reciting "King" and "Legend", came to the field; Eevee willfully took the two children and left the scene.

The game pretended to play for another minute, and the referee blew the game over.

In his 179th game for Paris Saint-Germain, he scored his 154th goal. 38th goal in the league in 2015-16 and 56th goal in a single season. Won the fourth league title. Such a farewell battle is perfect enough.

But it's not over yet.

At the league award ceremony, all the players appeared one by one. Captain Silva is the penultimate one. Ibrahimovic was the last to come out. As usual, again "Paris thanks to Zlatan".

Ibrahimovic laughed in the host's praise, and sold a very cute sentence of Ibrahimovic:

"You can win the championship without me... Of course it's hard, but it's possible. ”

The audience laughed.

The season after his departure, Edinson Cavani scored 35 league goals in a single season and a total of 49 goals for the year, but Paris did not win the title.

Probably, the ordinary fans of the Prince Stadium think that Cavani is diligent and make up for it, and think that Ibrahimovic is a lazy genius. After all, behind so many of his legendary goals, he lazily catches the ball when retreating, stops and passes away; Fight for flexibility to kick a difficult shot, shoot away as if it is not the right thing to wander back, and bend over to tie your shoelaces...

Genius is what it is: when he finds it annoying, and when he can't make up for it with hard work, he misses him.

Since his departure, there has been one less guy in Paris who talks to himself and always feels like Ibrahimovic that he is a superstar – yet indeed a superstar.

After that, Ibrahimovic went to Manchester United, then to the United States, and when we all thought he was going to fade out, he ran back to Milan to win the title!

Play until the age of 41, say retire, also retire.

Ibrahimovic is Sanxian, the most fun and fun player in the history of football.

He played the world, played enough, and left.

Whether on or off the field, it's really weird, it's really strange, it's really a lot of shortcomings, it's really full of running trains, it's really casual, it's really unconventional.

It is not very suitable for the precise, meticulous, interlocking low error tolerance of modern football.

But it's really arrogant, it's really comfortable.

That's the beauty of football: someone chasing victory and glory, someone showing and looking for themselves.

How to be remembered by everyone in the end, who won and who lost, later generations commented.

Just remember, on May 14, 2016, after scoring a goal, he retired and walked off the pitch with his two children to see the entire Parc des Princes in Paris bid him farewell.

"How handsome!"