After nine years with Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo left in the summer of 2018.
Ronaldo is one of the greatest players of the twentieth century, having won the Champions League three times in a row. In addition, the Portuguese international surpassed Raul as the club's all-time highest scorer, sealing his place among the game's all-time greats.
Despite being eliminated from the Champions League in the Round of 16 by Ajax in 2018/2019, the Spanish club has won two league titles in the last three years and will win Europe's most prestigious cup once more in 2022.
In 2021/2022, Benzema was the man who stepped up to fill in for Cristiano Ronaldo, and he is in his best form of his career.
Mariano Diaz, No. 1
The striker, who came up through Real Madrid's C and B divisions, joined Lyon in 2017. After scoring 18 goals in Ligue 1, Real Madrid bought him back for around £20 million and even gave him Ronaldo's iconic No.7 shirt.
Mariano has spent most of his time on the bench since his return, and he gave up his No.7 shirt when Eden Hazard signed a year later, but he is still at the club.
You'd think Madrid would be happy to say goodbye to an attacker who scored one goal in 11 appearances across all competitions in 2021-22, but it's a curious deal all around.
Mariano, on the other hand, just has a year left on his deal with the team.
Vinicius Junior is number two.
When Ronaldo went, the young winger was put under a lot of pressure to step up after coming for £40 million from Flamengo in Brazil as a teenager, and he failed at first.
Last season, though, the 21-year-old regained his confidence and was one of Europe's best performers. With 17 goals and 10 assists in 35 La Liga games, he's finally found a lethal end product, as Liverpool discovered with his match-winning goal in the Champions League final.
Luka Jovic is number three.
Jovic, a powerful centre forward who joined the club as a big-money signing as a 21-year-old in the summer of 2019, was brought in to provide more goals in the side while alternating with Benzema.
Last season, he had a fantastic season at Eintracht Frankfurt, reaching the Europa League semi-finals and scoring 27 goals in all competitions, and Madrid were willing to pay £57 million for him.
However, so far, the deal appears to be a fiasco. Benzema had scored three goals in 51 games for Real Madrid, and he barely got a look under Carlo Ancelotti last season, thanks to his incredible run.
Given his age, he still has hope, even if his future is practically bleak.
Eden Hazard is number four.
Hazard, the first Galactico signing since James Rodriguez in 2014, was one of the best players in the world during his time at Chelsea, scoring two goals in the Europa League final to earn a £100 million transfer to Madrid.
Hazard was a natural pick to replace Ronaldo, given his goal threat from the left wing, superstar status, and dribbling ability, but this has been the worst transfer of all.
The Belgian has struggled with fitness, injuries, and poor form since arriving at the club, scoring only six goals in 66 appearances and losing his starting role to Vinicius Junior.
Hazard can gloat about winning the Champions League, but he only played a few minutes and had minimal impact in their 2021-22 triumph.
Rodrygo is number five.
Rodrygo, a promising Brazilian winger who cost £40 million, is doing well to follow in the footsteps of Vinicius Junior.
He joined the team from Santos in the summer of 2019 and has already proven his worth, scoring 18 goals and assisting 21 times in 108 games.
Rodrygo has already etched his name into Real Madrid legend with his two goals in Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final comeback against Manchester City.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0