Karim Benzema has reached the point in his career where he can add records to his resume without having to score, and that was precisely the case today, when the French striker did not find the back of the net but was able to enter an elite list of players in the UEFA Champions League while also setting a record for Los Blancos.
The French superstar played for over 71 minutes against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and while he did not have a hand in any of Real Madrid's goals, he managed to earn a bit of history to add to his impressive resume.
His performance today helped him reach a mammoth amount of games played in the continental tournament, joining some of the top players in this generation while at it. As things stand, he could add two more to his record in the semi-finals, which will help him surpass one of Barcelona's legends in the process.
150 - Karim Benzema becomes the fifth player to reach 150 appearances in the @ChampionsLeague:
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) April 18, 2023
183 - Cristiano Ronaldo
177 - Iker Casillas
163 - Lionel Messi
151 - Xavi Hernández
150 - KARIM BENZEMA
Elite. pic.twitter.com/rVEEk0MOEn
Added to that, Benzema also made history with Los Blancos for the same reason and in one specific category.
131 - Outfield players with the most Champions League appearances for Real Madrid :
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) April 18, 2023
Karim Benzema - 131
Raúl - 130
Sergio Ramos - 129
Leader. #UCL pic.twitter.com/uS8RKGnrsK
Benzema may not have scored for Los Blancos, but it is safe to say that with these milestones, he is already securing his legacy as one of the most influential players in Real Madrid's history.