Karim Benzema: The Best of the Galactico Trio

What were you doing when you were 17? You were most likely still in school, or maybe even working at your first job. Karim Benzema? He was winning the the UEFA U-17 European Cup.

What were you doing at 19? Still in school? Working at a job? An internship? Well Karim Benzema was being given the attacking keys to the juggernaut of French football that is Olympique Lyon.

At 21 you were probably in school, while Benzema was being made as the successor to R9 at Real Madrid in one of the biggest transfers of the summer. And you thought you were getting ahead in life.

Karim Benzema was brought into Lyon's setup in 2004 after a promotion from the youth team and has never looked back. He was the top scorer in Ligue 1 for the 2007-08 season as well as the best player. Even with a dramatically collapsing Lyon at the end of last season, Benzema was still bringing in the goals with cool precision.

And that really is what Benzema is all about. The boy has nerves of steel and calmness in front of goal that is undeniable. He has scored against just about everyone, big teams, small teams, it doesn't matter, Benzema is always sharp and always ready to pounce. He plays like few strikers do nowadays, right down the center, just like his bald idol R9.

You may have forgotten about Benzema amongst the massive super-spending of Real Madrid this summer. He was there, tacked on right after Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo. Of the Big Three that Madrid swooped for, the French boy wonder easily received the least aplomb at his Bernabeu arrival. But that's ok, because on the pitch, he will most likely be the one to shine.

The reasons are fairly simple. Kaka, although languid and full of technique like Zidane, is no French playmaker. The brazilian's career has been plagued with injuries and although he'll most likely have the class to continue playing at the top flight, he'll never truly be able to recapture his otherworldly skills during 2006-07 Champions League run with Milan.

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is a bit more difficult. He is seemingly at the top of his game, and has the ability to score from anywhere with his sheer power, but it's unlikely to last. His dependence on immense physicality is breathtaking to behold, but how long can his string of injury-free seasons last?

Once Ronaldo starts to slow down, which he will, it's going to noticeably detract from his game, and it'd be challenge to try and recover that. Plus, even with certain exceptions, Alex Ferguson doesn't sell players so they can show their best for other clubs. Once he's done with them, they're not likely to reproduce a stunning show ever again.

So that leaves the French sensation. Still a young man, still powerful, and still on the cusp of what could be the breakthrough of a lifetime. Just look at the stats. Although he's "only" scored 43 goals in 112 game for Lyon, he's only 21. That's even better than Alan Shearer's 23 goals in 118 games for Southhampton, and similar to Eto'os 48 goals in 120 games for Mallorca.

Everything is in place for Benzema to breakthrough and stun the world. The fact that he scored the first and winning goal in Real's preseason is only a good omen of things to come. So watch this space, because if I'm correct, then the player who seemed surplus to all requirements considering the current state of Higuain may just be the greatest of all the Galacticos.