Even at the age of 33, with 17 years as a professional behind him including 280 Premier League appearances and 45 Belgium caps, Major League Soccer’s Golden Boot winner Christian Benteke can still find inspiration in Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
It is a source of frustration that while Messi is starting an MLS play-off campaign with Supporters’ Shield winners Inter Miami, the former Aston Villa, Liverpool and Crystal Palace striker will be watching on, with DC United’s season over.
Despite Benteke’s 23 goals, three more than Messi, Inter Miami team-mate Luis Suarez and LAFC’s Denis Bouanga, DC United failed to make it past the regular season because of their disappointing 10th-placed Eastern Conference finish.