Karim Benzema does not believe there is a team capable of being better than "best in the world" Real Madrid.
The Frenchman left Madrid in 2023 after 14 years in which he won 25 major trophies, including five Champions Leagues, five Club World Cups and four LaLiga titles.
He scored 354 goals for Los Blancos in 648 appearances before joining Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League.
Following his departure, Madrid won LaLiga and lifted their 15th Champions League title last season, and Benzema backs them to follow that up without a challenge.
"A spectacular season, very good," Benzema told Marca. "Real Madrid is always the best team in the world.
"Players come and go, but Real Madrid will always be at the top, at the very top. It is the best and will continue to prove it.
"It's the best team in the world. It's always strong and fighting for everything. I stand there, look around and don't see any team that's capable of being better.
"They have everything. Players, coach and president."
Benzema's old shirt number has recently been filled following the signing of Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer after his departure from Paris Saint-Germain.
He will slot into a team full of players being tipped to win the Ballon d'Or this year, with the likes of Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior among the favourites.
Benzema, who won the prize in 2022, has tipped the Brazilian to lift the individual award after he finished as Madrid's top scorer in all competitions, netting 24 goals.
"I'm going to say Vini because he deserves it for his season and not just for what he's done this year, but also for what he's done last year, he was also above the rest with his football and what he does with the ball. He's a kid, a complete footballer," Benzema added.
"He can win a game on his own, of course, with the help of his teammates, but he is very good when Real Madrid needs him and that is why I think he deserves it.
"He is always there, and he always shows up. For all of that, my favourite is Vini."
Bonucci backs Conte to restore Napoli as Serie A contenders
Former Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci has backed Antonio Conte to make Napoli one of the main contenders in Serie A next season.
Conte returned to management after a 15-month absence by signing a three-year contract with the Partenopei last month.
Napoli won the Scudetto in 2022-23 with five games to spare after storming to the title, but followed that up by finishing 10th last season, outside the extended European places.
After Luciano Spalletti's departure in 2023, the club went through three head coaches last season, with both Rudi Garcia and Walter Mazzarri being fired before Francesco Calzona oversaw the last few months of their underwhelming title challenge.
Gianluigi Buffon believes Napoli will finish in the top two this season, and Bonucci agreed with his former Juventus team-mate that Conte will make all the difference.
"Napoli couldn't have made a better choice after the year they've had," Bonucci told Sky Italia.
"They've taken on a world-class coach; he teaches you everything about football and gives you the right knowledge.
"The squad is strong and full of quality. Being able to work with them all week, he [Conte] will do really well."
Conte's first competitive game in charge of Napoli will be their Coppa Italia tie against Modena on August 10.
Bayern honorary president hints at potential De Ligt exit
Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness believes Matthijs de Ligt could leave this transfer window amid rumours he could be heading to Manchester United.
De Ligt, who played under Erik ten Hag at Ajax, has been linked to a move to Old Trafford after struggling in his first two seasons at Bayern.
No formal agreement between the clubs has been reached, though reports suggest the centre-back has agreed to personal terms.
Ten Hag confirmed the club were interested in signing De Ligt, who would be their second defensive addition if he joins, after they sealed a £52million deal for Leny Yoro last week.
Bayern, meanwhile, have also bolstered their defence in the off-season by bringing in Hiroki Ito from Stuttgart, and Hoeness hinted there was a chance De Ligt could leave the Allianz Arena.
"No more players will come unless two or three players leave first," Hoeness said.
"Max Eberl and Christoph Freund know full well that no one will come unless one or two prominent players leave. The FC Bayern has no money-wasters."
"It is possible that a defender will still leave. De Ligt is Dutch, and the coach at Man Utd is Dutch.
"I would have no problem if he stayed. Personally, I would not sell [Dayot] Upamecano."
De Ligt made just 22 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern last year, starting 16, as the club finished third behind unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen and surprise package Stuttgart.
Borussia Dortmund suffer humiliating 4-0 defeat to Thai outfit BG Pathum United
Borussia Dortmund fell to a chastening 4-0 defeat versus Thai side BG Pathum United in their second friendly match under new head coach Nuri Sahin.
Sahin took the reins after Edin Terzic resigned in the wake of BVB's Champions League final loss to Real Madrid last month.
His first game at the helm saw Dortmund draw 1-1 with third-tier German side Erzgebirge Aue on Wednesday, before they set off on a pre-season tour of Asia.
On Sunday, they faced BG Pathum United – who finished fourth in the Thai League 1 last term – in Thanyaburi, with a team featuring the likes of Karim Adeyemi, Youssoufa Moukoko, Julian Brandt and Niklas Sule being trounced 4-0.
Speaking after the loss, former midfielder Sahin told reporters: "Of course it's a heavy defeat, but I know how to classify it. Nevertheless, we can't lose 4-0.
"If you do the basics wrong in terms of your defence, then it can happen, even against a Thai team. I know the boys are tired, but that can't be an excuse at this level.
"In terms of the defence, I didn't like that at all today. We have to talk about it. The basics have nothing to do with having heavy legs. The basics have to be right."
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