Real Madrid's Rodrygo was asked on Tuesday what was the best piece of advice he had been given by Karim Benzema, and he answered quickly: "To give him the ball". It has been a sensible strategy for Real Madrid, whose number nine will be the most dangerous player on the pitch in Saturday's Champions League final against Liverpool and who has been arguably the finest player in the world all season. Benzema's 49 goals in 52 games dwarfs Mohamed Salah's 33 in 59 while even Kylian Mbappe, whose rejection of Real Madrid has so dominated the early build-up to this final in Paris, is inferior, with 43 in 49.