"At any rate, I work hard. Physically, I feel really good, I feel in shape. I’m often in the gym. You can never know whether you’re at the best point in your career because you’re always seeking perfection. For me, anyway, that’s what I look for in my performances. I’ve reached a very, very high level but I still want to seek more because I’ve got the chance to. I can go higher still.”

He accepts that selflessness can sometimes go unappreciated. That many modern fans often look only at the scorer and the result. But Benzema’s steadfast determination to be the fluid player who makes the team function better is unshakeable. As is his self-knowledge of why he’s been so durable – why Madrid remain keen for his Bernabéu career to be extended.
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“Well, I’d say that it’s the ‘unseen work’. It’s called ‘unseen work’ and it describes all those things, both on and off the pitch, which draw little attention. Whether that be resting, working or eating well. On the pitch, everyone has their own qualities, their own talent. Everyone works differently but I’d say that, off the pitch, you can still work on your game.”