Despite the fair share of criticism he receives, Karim Benzema has proved that he can hold his own at Real Madrid and has solidified himself as a regular starter for many, many years now.
Let's be honest for a moment: former Madrid bosses Zinedine Zidane and Julen Lopetegui had complete faith in the 30-year-old Frenchman, while interim manager Santiago Solari has continued to use him and has been rewarded with his deadly prowess in front of the net.
Benzema, who recently emerged as a target for Manchester United, scored a brace for Madrid in their 5-0 thrashing of Viktoria Plzeň in the Champions League.
However, the former Lyon star has been no stranger to criticism in the past.
Gary Lineker tweeted in 2017: "Is it me or is Benzema a tad overrated?"
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Unsurprisingly, the Madrid star wasn't too fond of what the former England international had to say about him.
"I find it harder to accept the criticism of former players who have gone on to become journalists and who spread their hatred around," he said at the time (via the Independent).
"They had the same difficulties, but have no solidarity. I feel embarrassed for him, frankly."
Only a year later, Benzema has been a frequent target for both Madrid supporters and football fans.
However, Twitter user Belkace has created an incredible thread, aptly named 'Thread on the unfair criticism of Karim Benzema,' that shows how important he has been for his club this season.
Grab a drink and check out the Madrid fan's extensive defence below.
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Is Benzema underrated?
Let us know in the comments.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Football News, Football, Karim Benzema, Real Madrid