Peerless Karim Benzema has set benchmark for Real Madrid's next generation of stars

More accolades heading French striker's way after clasico show, with youngsters like Valverde, Tchouameni and Rodrygo making giant strides as well

Karim Benzema celebrates with Federico Valverde after scoring the first goal in Real Madrid's 3-1 clasico win against Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on October 16, 2022. Reuters

Real Madrid's Rodrygo scores the third goal. EPA

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Rodrygo celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the Spanish League football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on October 16, 2022. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP)

Real Madrid's Luka Modric embraces teammate Rodrygo at the end of the match. AP

Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring the first goal. Getty

Real coach Carlo Ancelotti embraces Barca's Xavi after the match. Getty

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema is congratulated by teammates. AP

Barcelona's goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen reacts after Real Madrid's Karim Benzema scored the opening goal. AP

Real midfielder Federico Valverde celebrates after scoring the second goal. AFP

Valverde celebrates with Karim Benzema. AFP

Barca's Ferran Torres scores past Real's Andriy Lunin. Getty

Ferran Torres celebrates after scoring. AP

Rodrygo celebrates with Luka Modric at the end of the match. AFP

Karim Benzema saw his number come up. He heard the crescendo of applause as he made his way to the touchline. His work had been done and, after all, he had an important appointment the following day.

His goal, early in the season’s first clasico that put Real Madrid in the ascendency over Barcelona on Sunday, was a fitting way to head off to Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony.

His manager, Carlo Ancelotti, was already preparing the congratulations for Benzema being named, in Paris, as the world’s best footballer for the 2021/22 season. “His Ballon d’Or is in a little way ours, too,” said Ancelotti, noting how the Bernabeu crowd had responded to him deliberately bringing Benzema off late in the clasico so they could pay homage to their captain.

After the 3-1 win, Benzema then led Vinicius and Luka Modric, a previous Ballon d’Or, back onto the pitch to cheer the madridistas. “It felt like a Champions League day,” remarked Ancelotti of the exuberant atmosphere.

The victory returned Madrid to the top of la Liga, where they were champions with 13 points clearance over Barca last May. The honouring of Benzema, 34, is a reminder that Ancelotti’s Los Blancos were also thrilling Champions League winners.

There, the French striker scored two hat-tricks among his 10 goals in a dazzling trio of comebacks in the knockout rounds, with Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City eliminated on the way to the 1-0 win over Liverpool in the final.

Those see-saw ties, quite apart from Benzema’s 44 goals in 46 matches across his golden season, are partly why the Ballon d’Or stays a year longer in La Liga’s orbit.

Real Madrid and France striker Karim Benzema receives the Ballon d'Or award during the Ballon d'Or ceremony at Theatre Du Chatelet in Paris on October 17, 2022 in Paris. Getty Images

Karim Benzema receives the Ballon d'Or award from Zinedine Zidane next to his mother Malika Benzema, his son Ibrahim and his father Hafid Benzema. Getty Images

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba speak on stage during the Ballon d'Or ceremony at Theatre Du Chatelet in Paris. Getty Images

Karim Benzema receives the Ballon d'Or award from Zinedine Zidane next to his mother Malika Benzema, his son Ibrahim and his father Hafid Benzema. Getty Images

Former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, right, applauds Karim Benzema after receiving the Ballon d'Or award. Getty Images

Karim Benzema gives a thumbs up. Getty Images

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid kisses his father Hafid Benzema next to his mother Wahida Djebbara. EPA

Didier Drigba, Zinedine Zidane, Karim Benzema and French-British TV journalist Sandy Heribert. EPA

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema after winning the Ballon d'Or. Reuters

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema hugs former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane after winning the Ballon d'Or with former player and manager Zinedine Zidane. Reuters

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema after winning the Ballon d'Or. Reuters

Spanish clubs have supplied the award winners ever since 2008, when the long sequence of Lionel Messi – then of Barcelona – and Cristiano Ronaldo – nine years at Madrid – dominating the game’s most prestigious individual prize began.

For many of those nine years, Benzema played in Ronaldo’s shadow, developing the unselfishness that has made him such a peerless centre-forward; at once an expert finisher and a provider, ever alert to the movements of colleagues.

He has climbed to this peak relatively late in his career – he will not be going on to challenge Messi’s total of Ballons D’Or – seven – or Ronaldo’s – five. But a strong World Cup, with defending champions France, could put Benzema in contention for the next one.

Madrid hope the regular parade of Ballon d’Or wins that boost the image of the club will in time pass to a new generation. After the clasico Toni Kroos, the man of the match, gave special praise to his midfield colleague, Federico Valverde, who had put Madrid 2-0 up by half time. “He’s one of the top three players in the world at the moment,” said Kroos.

Kroos’s ruggedness in shielding the ball from Sergio Busquets and his fine through-ball to Vinicius had set up Benzema’s goal. Valverde’s was a creation of the younger generation, 22-year-old Vinicius the initiator after he seized on an Eric Garcia mistake, 22-year-old Aurelian Tchouameni the fulcrum and 24-year-old Valverde the poised finisher.

Real 3-1 Barcelona: player ratings

REAL MADRID RATINGS: Andriy Lunin – 7 Continuing in goal with Courtois injured, Lunin was lucky that Lewandowski couldn’t tap in at his far post. He had a quiet game, but could do little to stop Ferran Torres’ strike to his low left corner in the second half. EPA

Dani Carvajal – 7 Calm and collected at the back, the Spaniard always had an eye on a counter-attacking opportunity. He saw one through ball get a handy deflection off Garcia’s head before releasing Junior for Valverde’s goal. AP

Eder Militao – 7 The Brazilian was excellent in reading Lewandowski’s movement, and he provided a constant barrier to keep the former Bayern Munich player at bay and prevent him having time on the time on the ball. Getty

David Alba – 7 A solid performance from Alba alongside Militao, who restricted Lewandowski and left Barcelona unable to threaten the goal. EPA

Ferland Mendy – 7 Created Real Madrid’s first opportunity at goal with a superb run on the flank before crossing in for Vinicius Junior. AP

Luka Modric – 7 The 37-year-old continues to belie his age. As part of Madrid’s midfield three, Modric looked calm and composed on the ball. AFP

Aurelien Tchouameni – 7 A terrific tackle on Lewandowski in the second half defined Tchouameni’s game, with the 22-year-old dominant in midfield throughout. EPA

Toni Kroos – 9 A 250th La Liga appearance for the German, he was terrific in the build-up to the first goal, holding off Busquets before poking the ball through to release Junior on a break. He had an opportunity to score just after the restart, but his effort flew over the crossbar. AFP

Federico Valerde – 8 Doubled Real’s lead despite Barcelona’s pressure with a powerful strike from the edge of the box. He was then notably straight back to defensive duties with a crunching tackle minutes later. AFP

Karim Benzema – 8 Ended his five-match drought in front of goal with an early strike after a terrific run by Vinicius, slotting home past Ter Stegen. He thought he’d doubled his tally in the second half but his strike was ruled offside. AFP

Vinicius Junior – 9 Close to opening the scoring after eight minutes when his shot went just wide. He should have tucked home when Kroos played him through, before Benzema scored on the rebound. He played a role in Real’s second when he sprinted on to Carvajal’s long ball and controlled while he waited for teammates. Booked. AFP

SUBS: Eduardo Camavinga (Modric 78’) – A crucial change in Real's midfield with Barcelona growing into the game. AP

Rodrygo (Junior 85’) – Fouled in the box by Garcia, Rodrygo managed to squeeze the ball past Ter Stegen to settle the game in stoppage time from the penalty spot. AFP

Antonio Rudiger (Carvajal 88’) – After recovering from getting 20 stitches following a clash of heads in the Champions League in midweek, the former Chelsea defender was brought on with a warm reception with the game won. AFP

Marco Asensio - Brought on to use up time. Reuters

BARCELONA RATINGS: Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 6 The keeper made a good save to prevent Vinicius Junior opening the scoring but he was left scrambling for Benzema’s rebound. Later, he had no chance in keeping out Valverde’s powerful strike. EPA

Sergi Roberto – 5 Had the tough task of dealing with Vinicius on the sprint and at times gave Mendy too much space on the wing. He was able to enjoy spells on the wing himself as Barcelona enjoyed periods of possession. AP

Jules Kounde – 5 Replaced Pique in central defence and added some stability to the back line, though could have done better dealing with Vinicius in the build-up to the second. AP

Eric Garcia – 4 Had an unfortunate involvement in Valverde’s goal when a long ball took a deflection off the Spaniard’s head, which fell perfectly into Vinicius's path. He showed good strength later on to keep Benzema from tapping in but was again at fault stepping on Rodrygo’s foot to see VAR reward a penalty. EPA

Alejandro Balde – 5 The 18-year-old replaced Alonso at left-back but had a tough task against Valverde and Carvajal before he was replaced early into the second half. AFP

Frenkie de Jong – 6 Given the nod instead of Gavi, De Jong was given plenty of space to drive forward and create opportunities, with Real notably backing off and allowing the Dutchman to test Lunin in the first half. EPA

Sergio Busquets – 4 The 34-year-old lost the battle in midfield to Kroos, with the notable moment being when he was unable to bring down the German and stop his ball through to Junior on the break. AFP

Pedri – 5 Started well, his early shot showing no threat before Benzema’s opener. Faded in the midfield, and couldn’t cope with Madrid’s movement. EPA

Raphinha – 5 Had the first shot on target of the game after good work by De Jong in midfield, his long-range effort comfortably saved. He was Barca’s most creative attacking outlet, and set up one opportunity for Lewandowski. Getty

Robert Lewandowski – 6 Should have scored the equaliser in his first competitive El Clasico when the ball ran to him at the far post before the on-form striker managed to fire over an easy tap-in. The former Bayern Munich forward could have got a goal back before half-time but his header went wide after a coming together with Militao. AFP

Ousmane Dembele – 6 The Barca forward was unable to convert a header from Sergi Roberto’s cross into the box and was unable to create much for Barcelona, his decision making letting him down. Getty

SUBS: Ferran Torres (Raphinha 60’) – 7 Came off the bench to give hope to his side and he was in the right place to tap home Fati’s cross into the box. AP

Jordi Alba (Balde 60’) – 6 Part of a trio of substitutions which seemed to kickstart Barcelona’s second-half improvement. AP

Gavi (Busquets 60’) – 7 The young attacker was full of energy during his cameo, attempting to create but also happy to put in the odd tackle to disrupt play. It was no surprise to see one of his recoveries create Torres’ goal. Went for goal with 10 minutes to go, but his effort took a deflection. Getty

Ansu Fati (Dembele 73’) – 7 Tested Lunin with Barcelona’s first opportunity of note in the second half with a strike from distance, and then created their consolation goal. Moments later, Fati attempted a cartwheel style shot, which went narrowly wide of the post. AP

Franck Kessie (Pedri 83’) N/R A late change for Barcelona still trying to find a way back into the game. AP

Poor Garcia had a difficult 90 minutes at centre-back for Barcelona. He gave away the late penalty for a foul on substitute Rodrygo. The 21-year-old Rodrygo converted the spot-kick.

Young they may be, but this band of Madrid colts were included in the words chosen by Xavi, the Barca manager, to describe the difference between the teams. “Madrid are a more mature side,” he said, meaning they are settled, confident of their strengths. Barcelona by contrast, are “in construction”, according to their young coach.

Xavi has been in charge, in his first senior management job in Europe, less than a year and is still finding the best ways to combine a number of summer arrivals.

“We must reduce mistakes,” sighed Xavi, who four days earlier had seen a Busquets error contribute to a 3-3 draw with Inter Milan that may well have condemned Barcelona to elimination from the Champions League at the group stage. Busquets’s shortcomings against Kroos in the lead-up to Madrid going ahead established a pattern at the Bernabeu.

Barcelona were insipid. They were penalised for just one foul in the first half. That was not a testament to the purity and control of their football, but a lack of aggression – in the fixture that is supposed to celebrate the sport’s fiercest club rivalry.