Benzema does pass to Vinicius

On October 28, 2020, at half time in the Champions League fixture between Borussia Monchengladbach and Real Madrid, the cameras of French broadcaster RMC captured a conversation between Karim Benzema and Ferland Mendy in the tunnel whilst the pair were looking at Vinicius.

"Don't pass him the ball, he is playing against us," said Benzema.

The incident created an internal crisis which Benzema sought to bring to an end the following day in a face-to-face conversation with a devastated Vinicius, who was 19 at the time. That episode could have buried Vinicius, but it made him and his relationship with Benzema stronger.

Now, 561 days later, Benzema and Vinicius have formed the best partnership of this season, without doubt. They make up a forward line that has been impossible to stop in Spain and in Europe.

The French maestro has his sights set on the Ballon D'Or with his 44 goals and 15 assists in 44 matches, whilst his Brazilian disciple has become his best ally with 21 goals and 20 assists.

On Thursday, Benzema equalled Raul Gonzalez as the second-highest scorer in Real Madrid's history with 323 goals, whilst Vinicius scored his first hat-trick for Los Blancos and the Movistar cameras showed his delight.

It is no easy task to say for certain which of the two has developed more since that hidden camera revealed the lack of harmony between them.

I would choose Vinicius. Benzema has always been a footballing genius, consistently finding the back of the net.

Benzema is now also the mentor of Vinicius, who has combined his innate ability to terrorise defences with an understanding of the game and a calmness in front of goal that he could only have learnt from a teacher like Karim Benzema.