Inspired by LG from the Benzema thread.

A great dilemma. Post slavery Benzema at an already ripe age made a case for himself, pre slavery it wouldn't have been a discussion IMO.

I personally still lean Suarez. He was ridiculously effective and consistent throughout his career. He could also have been enslaved by Messi and Neymar but channeled his inner Maximus Decimus Meridius. Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And after being dumped, he had his vengeance in this life with Atletico Madrid.

But what do you plebs think? Vote and discuss.

Well put, Vibey.

As i said, the things Suarez did from 2013 - 2018 was on another level of number 9 striking activity. Best since Ronaldo Fenomeno. Top 5 player of the 2000s.

Also this debate brings another interesting question...

Where are the strikers? As we transition from a legendary generation of strikers, I don't see matching talent coming up.

Yes, we have Haaland and Mbappe, but it look pretty bleak below .

Balogun, maybe, if his development continues to go up

Benzema the better footballer, Suarez the better striker. They are the 2 best #9s along with Eto'o since Ronaldo.

"el Pistolero" Luis Alberto Suárez Díaz

Theres definitely less elite no.9 atm compared with the past 'era', lot of them retired or are old, maybes its Peps fault, his introduction of false 9 n no strikers formations lol...

Suarez edges it for me, just so many examples... him leading ATLETICO to a league title is just pretty insane. Benzema won the Ballon D'or but argubly in a year where competition were less than say Suarez's prime yrs... During some years there were likes of Drogba, Villa, etc., but they didnt get a sniff simply cos there were so much competition.

Valkyrja wrote:Benzema the better footballer, Suarez the better striker. They are the 2 best #9s along with Eto'o since Ronaldo.

Agree with this.

But also Benz did it for longer. Both their legends could be bigger if they weren't asses.

Suarez at his best was better than Benzema at his best. Benzema even admitted he wish he had done things differently and his finishing only stepped up a level in the latter stages of his career.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:

Valkyrja wrote:Benzema the better footballer, Suarez the better striker. They are the 2 best #9s along with Eto'o since Ronaldo.

Agree with this.

But also Benz did it for longer. Both their legends could be bigger if they weren't asses.

This. Just weird personalities. Frankly, most 9s are not the best people. Footballers generally aren't great citizens lol.

It's pretty straightforward imo.

Pure goal scoring = Suarez
Versatility = Benzema
Highest peak = Suarez
Better overall career = Benzema

I don't think people appreciate the carry job Benzema did last season and the two before.

He was doing what he was doing with 2 toddlers, Lucas Vasquez, Asensio and Valverde playing as a winger.

To me, his peak was higher than Suarez just given how much of the attack he had to carry.

Agree with Sports, peak doesn’t go to Suarez. Many do not realise how good Benzema was post-2018, doing absolutely everything at the highest level. Incredible talent tbh, so in some ways he resembles Iniesta, especially in tight spaces.

Suarez being average in CL stick out to me. Even Benz worst season at Madrid scores in the final and had that sideline move against athleti. That's my main knock against Suarez

Suarez CL stats:
14/15 - 7 goals, 3 assists in 10 appearances (with a go-ahead goal in the final)
15/16 - 8 goals, 3 assists in 9 appearances
16/17 - 3 goals, 4 assists in 9 appearances
17/18 - 1 goal, 4 assists in 10 appearances
18/19 - 1 goal, 5 assists in 10 appearances
19/20 - 5 goals, 3 assists in 7 appearances
20/21 - 0 goals, 0 assists in 6 appearances
21/22 - 1 goal, 0 assists in 7 appearances

admittedly half of those seasons were underwhelming, especially in 17/18 and 18/19 in the goals department, but his last two CL seasons he didn't play full matches, even though he still led Atleti to the La Liga in one of them. But there are 4 good CL campaigns in there, and i think that is good enough for a top player in a competition that isn't always so straight forward.

Suarez.

suarez

Benzema up in the poll, I thought Suarez would sweep this

Vibe wrote:Benzema up in the poll, I thought Suarez would sweep this

You don't have to be a Madrid fan to make a solid case for Benzema. It's not lie he didn't have a longer career at the top and performed better in the CL.

It's not so far, depends on what the team would need, a fantastic striker or a legendary DM.

Difficult one, depends on what your perspectives are. As a striker, I would always take Suarez and Suarez would not never get shadowed by other personalities around him as Benzema was. Suarez impressed in all kinds of situations and with all kinds of teams/players.