"When I saw Cristiano win the Ballon d'Or, I thought I could also win it"

Benzema is the man of the moment in the world of football. The French striker is in the best moment of his career and there is proof of that at Real Madrid. The Frenchman gave an interview to 'ESPN' in which he talked about several topics on his good performances.

"Physically, I feel good. As time passes, I feel better. Experience is largely the reason for it and since I turned 30, the work that goes on behind the scenes. Everything you need after training, when you reach home. The seriousness, professionalism. It is all to do with learning. Learn that you enjoy all work, not only the pitch and football. It is too do with loving gym work, resting well, eating well, working on your day off," he said.

Undoubtedly, Benzema also spoke about his possibilties of winning the Ballon d'Or: "It's always been a target, I've always had it in mind. When Cristiano Ronaldo won it in the past and received it on the pitch at the Bernabeu, of course I felt happy for him. Happy to form part of his team, but afterwards, you have to think: 'of course, I also want to win it'. I can say that I've never been so close to winning it thanks to my performances, so I've done it here in the last three or four years. It's everything I do. We can say I'm not too far away."

He continued by talking about 'El Clasico' next Sunday, the first without Messi: "For me, it's all the same. This is still the best match-up that exists in football. It doesn't matter about the current players, who has gone or which will come. It's history. It's football. Zinedine Zidane was here beforehand, as was Ronaldinho, Ronaldo Nazario, Samuel Eto'o. Everything changes, but Real Madrid versus Barcelona will always be Real Madrid versus Barcelona. It doesn't matter which players take part in it. The pressure is different."

"What I do on the pitch is what I love and enjoy. The passes, movements, actions, control of the ball... that is what pleases me most. In the last three, four years, I'm consistent, especially in the most important matches. When my team most needs me, I'm always there helping them. That is what satisfies me most," the Frenchman concluded.