Pundits can’t agree on whether Tottenham’s Harry Kane is better than Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema.
Tottenham’s Harry Kane celebrates
Stan Collymore has hit out at Gary Lineker for insisting Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is better than Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema.
Kane scored 29 goals in 30 games this past season in the Premier League, to land the Golden Boot for the second year in a row.
Speaking to BBC Match of the Day on Sunday night, Lineker told Ian Wright that he regarded Harry Kane as superior to Karim Benzema.
Responding to Wright’s assertion that Kane was on a level playing field as the Frenchman, Lineker said: “I think he’s better.”
Now Collymore has dismissed Lineker’s assertion.
Pundit and former footballer Stan Collymore
He told The Mirror: “If you’re scoring that many goals in one of the best leagues in the world then I don’t think there is any debate about whether or not you’re world class.
“But Gary Lineker flippantly said he was better than Karim Benzema and that is quite a shout when you consider what the Frenchman has won.
“The questions now are whether Tottenham can win trophies, Kane can get a goal every other game in the Champions League group stages and at a World Cup?”
Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema in action with Manchester City’s Nicolas Otamendi
Benzema has an inferior record to Kane this season, having scored 11 goals in 23 La Liga starts plus six substitute appearances.
At 29 he is edging past his peak, while Kane is only going to get better.
Lineker has a backer for his viewpoint in fellow BBC pundit Chris Sutton.
Sutton told The Mail: “Kane’s outstanding form will not have escaped Europe’s elite. For Real Madrid, you would have to say Kane is an upgrade on Karim Benzema. Should Real come calling, it would be a big decision for the player and Tottenham.
“I would hope Tottenham are brave enough to ward off any bids and launch an assault on the Premier League next season.”
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