Real Madrid’s France international Karim Benzema (pictured right) consolidated his lead in the FTBL World Ranking of U21 forwards after netting two goals in the Spanish giants’ 3:1 defeat of Tenerife in La Liga action, in the process moving up to claim the 2nd spot in our ranking of French strikers.

Benzema earned more than 26 rating points in the game to take his tally to 154.09 points and extend the lead over his closest rival in the ranking of U21 players by almost 30 rating points.

The young international is now just 2 rating points behind the leader in our ranking of French forwards, Barcelona’s Thierry Henry (155.72 points). Henry played just 30 minutes in the Catalans’ 2:0 away win over Málaga but could not beat the plank of 18.23 rating points he had in the game.

Benzema will have a plank of 14.8 rating points to beat in his next appearance, and if he continues to score, there is no reason why he should not beat it.