Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema are set to face each other once again in Saudi Arabia, this time in the Saudi Super Cup semifinals between Al Nassr and Al Ittihad, a match scheduled to be played in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Once teammates at Real Madrid, Benzema addressed the supposed rivalry with the Portuguese star just hours before kickoff.
After establishing themselves as one of the most lethal duos in Europe, Benzema and Ronaldo spent nine years together at Real Madrid between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. Now, the two meet again, but as rivals in Saudi Arabia, with Benzema having had the upper hand so far.
When asked about his head-to-head against Ronaldo, Benzema was quick to shut down the narrative. “I don’t know if it’s a challenge, I’m not playing against him. It’s not a Karim vs. Cristiano match, no. What I can say is that he’s a football legend. He has brought and continues to bring a lot to this sport,” the Frenchman said at Monday’s pre-match press conference.
The striker also stressed that the semifinal is not about personal battles but about the two clubs fighting for a spot in the final: “What I can wish him is the best for him. And that’s it, tomorrow we’ll play against each other. But it’s more Al Nassr vs. Al Ittihad. So we’ll see what happens tomorrow on the pitch.”
Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr and Karim Benzema of Al Ittihad talk prior the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Ittihad v Al-Nassr at King Abdullah Sports City on December 6, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
While the spotlight will inevitably be on the two global icons, Benzema downplayed the rivalry, shifting the focus to the team’s goal of advancing to the final. Beyond praising Ronaldo’s lasting impact on the sport, he insisted his only objective is winning the match.
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Ronaldo and a negative record against Al Ittihad
The Saudi Super Cup has long been an elusive trophy for Cristiano Ronaldo. In 2022-23, Al Nassr fell 3-1 to Al Ittihad in the semifinals. In 2023-24, they were knocked out again, this time 2-1 by Al Hilal. And in 2024-25, Ronaldo finally reached the final, only to be crushed 4-1 by Al Hilal.
Individually, Ronaldo also carries a losing record against Al Ittihad heading into Tuesday’s clash. In six appearances against the Saudi side, he has scored five goals, but managed only two wins compared to four losses.
The Portuguese star also trails Benzema in head-to-head matchups, with just one win in three meetings. The numbers don’t favor Al Nassr, but after a busy summer of blockbuster signings and a positive preseason despite a narrow 3-2 loss to Almeria, Ronaldo has a chance to flip the script, and finally turn his record around.
