Following Real Madrid's 3-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash, a former competition winner has proclaimed that the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner has already been decided.
Click through the gallery above to see some of the action from Real's 3-1 victory over Chelsea on Wednesday night!
Karim Benzema put the ball into the back of Edouard Mendy's net three times on Wednesday night to give Real a two-goal advantage going into the second leg of the tie.
The Frenchman broke a number of records with that hat-trick. In addition to becoming the first French player to score 10 goals in European Cup history, he also became one of only two players to score consecutive hat-tricks in the UCL's knockout stage.
He is now also the first player to score a Champions League hat-trick against reigning champions Chelsea.
The 34-year-old seems to be peaking at the right time, and a former opponent of his, Rio Ferdinand, has lauded the striker's consistency this season.
"This is the business end and he is still scoring goals. He has shot his team to the top of the league, they're 12 points clear," the 2007/08 Champions League winner said on BT Sport.
"He is the talisman, he is the leader now, and he has stepped out of the shadows of Cristiano Ronaldo."
The former England international was also adamant the four-time UCL champion is in pole position to capture the illustrious Ballon d'Or trophy.
"Karim Benzema, if they're not engraving his name or halfway through engraving his name on the Ballon d'Or by the end of the season, I'll be surprised," Ferdinand added.
"He's been magic, the last tie he was magnificent, got a hat-trick then another hat-trick here. This man was the difference.
"Yes, they got their tactics right, especially in the first half. Vinicius [Junior] hanging out in the wide areas, pinning back Andreas Christensen, and then the chances came his [Benzema's] way and he dispatched them beautifully.
"An absolute complete forward and it was a masterclass from him."
Benzema Makes History After UCL Hat-Trick
Benzema's goal tally for the season now stands at 37, with a considerable number of games remaining.
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