No room for Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo as Karim Benzema names his dream XI
Karim Benzema was tasked with naming his dream line-up but neither Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi made it into his plans.
The former Real Madrid striker has had the pleasure of playing with and against some of football's greatest talents throughout his illustrious career.
Benzema spent 14 seasons at the Bernabeu and starred with fellow Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo for nine of those years.
He has also played against Messi on 41 occasions for club and country, 36 of which came in the iconic Madrid vs Barcelona El Clasico.
However, despite witnessing the quality both legends possess on numerous occasions, Benzema snubbed both of them in his starting XI.
Al Ittihad asked the France international to name his dream line-up, with Bayern Munich and Germany icon Manuel Neuer starting in goal.
Benzema picked three of his former Madrid teammates in the defence, with Marcelo, Sergio Ramos and Pepe all present.
Former rival Dani Alves is named at right-back, with a midfield duo of Paul Pogba and Claude Makelele also making the selection.
Fellow Frenchman and Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane is named behind the attack, with Brazil icon Ronaldinho alongside him.
Benzema then opted to include himself in the forward line along with two-time World Cup winner Ronaldo, completing what is certainly a star-studded XI.
In total, seven former Madrid players made the cut, with two previously at Barcelona, one currently at Bayern in Neuer and one formerly of Manchester United.
A multitude of titles and individual honours have been won amongst them, even without Ronaldo and Messi.
Benzema has won 31 trophies at club level and five of those have come in the Club World Cup..
He could be set to win his sixth title in the competition in the coming weeks as Al
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