Some of the world's best players will be on show in Paris on Saturday as Liverpool and Real Madrid go head to head in the biggest club game in football - the Champions League final.
It is the third time the two famous clubs have met in a European Cup final - a record for a single fixture - with the past two split one apiece, Liverpool winning in Paris in 1981 before Real Madrid lifted the trophy in 2018.
Ahead of the blockbuster fixture between two of Europe's most decorated teams, the Sports Mole team have compared every player likely to start the match for both sides in Paris.
Here, we discuss whether Liverpool's Sadio Mane or Real Madrid's Karim Benzema is the better striker.
Barney Corkhill, Editor
VERDICT: Karim Benzema
Sadio Mane can consider himself unfortunate to come up against Karim Benzema in this head to head, as against most other forwards in world football he would be a shoo-in.
Mane has been more responsible than perhaps anyone else for carrying Liverpool to the line in four separate competitions this season, and considering Saturday will be game number 70 of his campaign - including pre-season - it is incredible that he is still playing to such a high standard.
Twenty-three goals, many of them important ones, is a very good return for the Senegalese superstar and, if Liverpool win on Saturday, Mane will no doubt be in the running for the Ballon d'Or having also led his country to Africa Cup of Nations glory.
However, if the Ballon d'Or was to be be awarded tomorrow, it would most likely go to Benzema, and it would take something remarkable to happen for him not to get his hands on the coveted award this year anyway.
The France international was enjoying a superb campaign even before the Champions League knockout rounds began, but he has since stepped it up to a new level, plundering 10 knockout goals already, including back-to-back hat-tricks against PSG and Chelsea.
Benzema now has former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo's all-time single-season Champions League scoring record in his sights, and if any one player's brilliance is to decide Saturday's final, you would have to put Benzema at the very top of the likely candidates.
In total he has scored a whopping 44 goals in just 45 appearances this season, while his tally of 15 assists is also hugely impressive.
On top of that, he fares better than Mane in general shooting, passing and chance-creating stakes too, so as good as Mane has been, Benzema would arguably beat any other player in a direct head to head right now.
Matt Law, Football Editor
VERDICT: Karim Benzema
Mane has had another fine season, scoring 23 goals and registering five assists in 50 appearances, but Benzema is the best centre-forward in the world and gets the nod here.
Benzema has been simply stunning this season, scoring 44 goals and providing 15 assists in 45 appearances, including 15 Champions League goals, and there is no question that Real Madrid would not be in the final without the presence of the France international.
Vinicius has also had a fine campaign for Los Blancos, but Benzema is comfortably Real Madrid's most important player, and while Mane is set to play an important role for Liverpool on Saturday, the Reds simply do not rely on him as much as Los Blancos with their goal machine of a centre-forward.
Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter
VERDICT: Karim Benzema
By his own admission, Sadio Mane did not enjoy the best of seasons in 2020-21, but winning the Africa Cup of Nations and scoring 23 goals in all tournaments has elevated the 30-year-old right back to the top.
Mane has often been deployed at the tip of the Liverpool attack – doing so with aplomb throughout the season – and he would arguably walk into any other team's forward line.
However, Karim Benzema. 44 goals. 15 assists. 34 years of age. A Panenka penalty in the Champions League semi-finals. The limelight is firmly on the Frenchman after years of playing second fiddle to Cristiano Ronaldo, and a goal in the final would see him become the outright third-highest goalscorer in the Champions League with 87 – only behind Ronaldo himself and Lionel Messi.
If it wasn't already clear, Benzema wins this battle.
Joel Lefevre, Reporter
VERDICT: Karim Benzema
Both Mane and Benzema have shown they are electric in front of goal while also providing some effective link-up play and becoming a provider as well.
While Mane can push the pace with much higher intensity levels, Benzema is perhaps the most well-rounded striker that we have seen in world football in a while. Karim the dream will get the edge for me in this matchup.
The Frenchman is potent inside the box, yet he is happy to give his teammates the glory if he needs it. If you take Karim Benzema out of Real Madrid, they are below average. Another distinguishing factor for me is Benzema's ability to stay composed no matter how a match is going.
He is patient and keeps plugging away. Look at the confidence to take a Panenka penalty in a Champions League semi-final. Mane does not always look as comfortable as Karim in those big moments, so the Lyon-born striker gets the edge.
SPORTS MOLE VERDICT: KARIM BENZEMA
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