Karim Benzema, Luis Suarez, and Robert Lewandowski have helped define an era in the football world.
Amid Cristiano Ronaldo’s and Lionel Messi’s dominance of the sport at every level, the trio of forwards have consistently churned out numbers that have seen them recognised as some of the finest in recent history.
While not as prominent as the debate between the Argentine and the Portuguese, there has still been much said about who between Benzema, Suarez, and Lewandowski is the best.
Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand, recently came out to air his opinion on who the best of the trio was in their respective primes.
In the recent edition of his podcast with FIVE UK, the 44-year-old footballer turned television pundit was tasked with making a pick between Benzema, Suarez, and Lewandowski.
As reported by Madrid Universal on Twitter, the former England international replied:
"Prime Benzema. He was the hardest to play against."
The former Man United defender has not hidden his admiration for the Al-Ittihad forward, having showed his admiration for the French star as far back as 2016.
Ahead of the UEFA Champions League final at that time, as quoted by Eurosport, he said:
"From personal experience playing against both of those players, I found it harder to play against him [Benzema]. Because he was very cute, he was very efficient in all areas, off his right and left foot, his movement was cute."
Ferdinand and Benzema faced each other on four occasions, with the first two meetings coming in the 2007/08 UCL group stages.