Is Real Madrid’s Benzema best striker to player under Ancelotti?

Carlo Ancelotti has managed some of the world’s greatest teams and with that comes the best players.

In Italy, England, France, Spain and Germany he has encountered some of the finest around – with Karim Benzema producing 44 goals in all competitions so far.

If Madrid beat Liverpool it will almost certainly mean winning the Ballon d’Or.

Would that make him the best? Here, we take a look at some of the other extraordinary forwards Ancelotti has managed.

Hernan Crespo: Parma (96-98), Milan (04-05)

Together the Argentina forward and Ancelotti took Parma close to winning Serie A in 1996-97 as they finished two points behind Juve.

Ancelotti again managed Crespo at Milan when he scored twice in the infamous 2005 Champions League final where Liverpool came from 3-0 down to snatch a draw and win on penalties.

Alessandro Del Piero: Juventus (99-01)

Who knows how different Ancelotti’s time at Juve would have been had he not arrived while Del Piero was recovering from a serious knee injury.

 Together they lost the title on the final day of the season in both 2000 and 2001 before Ancelotti was dismissed

Filippo Inzaghi: Juventus (99-01), Milan (01-09)

Ancelotti first managed the little poacher at Juve and his double in the 1999 Champions League semi-final had put his side on the brink of reaching the final before Manchester United came back to win 3-2 and eliminate the Bianconeri.

They enjoyed success at Milan though with a Scudetto and two Champions League titles – Inzaghi scoring both goals in 2007 final win over Liverpool. 

David Trezeguet: Juventus (00-01)

It was under Ancelotti that the France forward arrived in Italy from Monaco and enjoyed a steady debut season with 14 Serie A goals.

However, his best would come following Ancelotti’s departure when was capocannoniere the following season with 24 goals en route to the first of back-to-back titles.

Andriy Shevchenko: Milan (00-06)

The Ukraine forward was the first player to win a Ballon d’Or under Ancelotti with his 2004 award coming the same season Milan won Serie A.

Shevchenko was one of Europe’s deadliest finishers and scored the winning penalty in the 2003 Champions League final win over Juve – before missing his spot kick to hand Liverpool the title two years later. 

Ronaldo: Milan (07-08)

They spent just 18 months together and injuries limited the legendary Brazil forward to just 21 appearances under Ancelotti.

However, as one of the game’s all-time greatest forwards, his presence of this last was a guarantee. He did still contribute a goal in the derby against Inter which his side lost 2-1. 

Didier Drogba: Chelsea (09-11)

The Ivory Coast forward enjoyed his most profitable season of his career under Ancelotti when he netted 37 times in all competitions en route to a league and cup double in 2009-10.

Despite the arrival of Fernando Torres midway through the following, Drogba played even more games and scored 13 times.  

Nicolas Anelka: Chelsea (09-11)

A striker with bags of potential who perhaps never really fulfilled it but remains one of the best forward of his generation.

Anelka was spent more time at Chelsea than at any other club and scored a steady 31 goals in all under Ancelotti. 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Paris Saint-Germain (12-13)

Together, the pair got the Qatar era at PSG up and running with the first Ligue 1 title under the new regime

Ibrahimovic would flourish in Paris and kicked off his debut campaign with 35 goals in all competitions. 

Cristiano Ronaldo: Real Madrid (14-16)

The second man on this list to win the Ballon d’Or under Ancelotti as the pair brought the long-awaited Decima back to Madrid in 2014.

Ronaldo enjoyed the biggest goal-laden season of his career under the Italian with a stunning 61 in 2014-15, following it up with 51 the following campaign.

Robert Lewandowski: Bayern Munich (16-17)

The Pole has been arguably the deadliest finisher in Europe over the past few seasons and was a key player as Bayern won their fifth title in a row.

Under Ancelotti, Lewandowski scored 43 goals in all competitions but the Italian was dismissed early into the 2017-18 campaign.