Manchester City striker Erling Haaland said on Tuesday that Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema is an “even better” player now at 35, and he’s aiming to achieve a similar feat.

Haaland, 22, also said he wants to win the Ballon d’Or like Benzema.

Haaland said in an interview with GQ that was reported by Relevo via Europa Press: “We would all like to (win the Ballon d’Or). But I don’t think it’s good to think about it too much. If you and your team play really well, you’ll get good results, you’ll start winning trophies, and you’ll probably be among the finalists.

“Like De Bruyne, who came third, and I think deservedly so, by the way. But yeah, you can’t start thinking about those things.”

Haaland also admitted that he’s impressed with the monster mentality of Real Madrid.

“Sometimes, like the game against Real Madrid last year, when you see the goal Rodrygo scores, where [Marco] Asensio heads the ball and misses it, and it hits Rodrygo’s leg and goes in the goal… Sometimes I think actually there is a God up there who decides these things.

“This mentality kind of thing, Madrid knowing that they’ve won it before? I don’t know if that’s a thing. Maybe. I will try to do everything in my power to win trophies here with Manchester City and to try to be the game changer. My goal is to win the Champions League, hopefully.”