Karim Benzema surpasses Di Stéfano’s 308 goals to become the third highest goalscorer in Real Madrid history

For 45 years, from 1964 to 2009, there existed a Real Madrid record that seemed unbeatable: the 308 goals scored by Alfredo Di Stéfano in the famous white shirt, which made him Los Blancos’ all-time top scorer for almost half a century. Since then, just three Real Madrid players have surpassed that figure. Raúl González was the first in 2009, ending his career at the club with 323 goals. Then came Cristiano Ronaldo, who blew Raul’s record out of the water, leaving the Bernabeu in 2018 with 450 goals as Real Madrid’s current all-time top scorer. And the latest to beat the Blond Arrow’s tally is now Karim Benzema, who is now the third top scorer in club history, with 309 goals and counting. A truly extraordinary milestone.

“I think he’s one of the best players in the world and the best number 9, perhaps with Lewandowski at the moment. He’s showed why he might win the Ballon d’Or this year. He’s a true captain. He lead the team to victory with his goals and with his class.”

Thibaut Courtois 

Carlo Ancelotti on Benzema

“We are dependent on Benzema. That’s how it is, we are not going to deny it. And I’m very happy that we are dependent on Karim. It’s a reality, and it’s a good thing. Karim is a modern forward and [does] what is required of strikers. Everything, including defensive work. He is the perfect representation of what a centre forward should be in today’s football.”

At 34, Benzema has proven to be one of the most consistently brilliant strikers of the modern era. And he is also one of the most in-form players in the world. He has scored 30 goals in 33 games, with a third of the season still to go. 20 of these goals have come in LaLiga Santander, making him the frontrunner in this season’s top scorer Pichichi award. And if that wasn’t enough, he also leads the division in assists (10). Remarkable.

David Alaba on Benzema

“What he’s doing this season is incredible. I can see how hard he works, and he’s having the season of his life, he’s very focused and is hungry to score goals. He prepares very well for every game, particularly matches like tonight’s. I’m delighted to have him as a team-mate.”

His latest display has made headlines around the world; a spectacular hat-trick against PSG that earned Real Madrid a much-deserved spot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. In the process, he signed off one of those magical nights at the Santiago Bernabéu, with a comeback included. “It was apotheosis,” said club legend Emilio Butragueño, who was once the protagonist of those unforgettable comebacks in the 1980s that created the legendary ‘stage fright’ that European opponents feel when playing at the Santiago Bernabeu. At half-time on Wednesday night, Real Madrid trailed by two goals on aggregate, but an 18-minute hat-trick from Benzema turned the tie on its head to the delight of the enraptured crowd.

“Karim came up to me and asked if I wanted to take the penalty, to score the hattrick. And of course, with the season that he’s having, the least I could do is say, ‘No, you should take it, Karim!’”

Rodrygo

These three goals saw Benzema definitively surpass Di Stéfano’s record. Across the thirteen seasons he has been at Real Madrid, the Frenchman has scored 212 goals in LaLiga Santander, 66 in the Champions League, 21 in the Copa del Rey, 5 in the Spanish Super Cup, 3 in the Club World Cup and 1 in the European Super Cup.

With almost three months of competition still to play and 30 goals already in his backpack, it looks like Benzema will also set a new personal scoring record. His previous best was 32 goals in 2011-12. Last season he came within a whisker of it (31), but it looks like he’ll comfortably break that mark this time around. And next up in his sights: second all-time top scorer Raúl González, with 323 goals.

His LaLiga career stats

LaLiga’s top strikers this season