Karim Benzema has payed Olivier Giroud a bit of a back-handed compliment following the 31-year-old’s 29th goal for France.

Giroud scored the second goal in France’s 2-0 friendly win over France on Friday, prompting compatriot Benzema to pay him a pretty strange compliment.

“You can play with him, he is very good with his back to goal. But it is not like playing with Griezmann. It is slower,” Benzema told Canal+.

We get it, Giroud is pretty slow. But yes, he is good with his back to goal. His hold-up play is exceptional. Given his height (6ft 4in), it’s hardly a surprise that he’s slower than Antoine Griezmann, who’s 5ft 9in.

giroud beznema
France’s forward Olivier Giroud (L) leaves the pitch next to France’s forward Karim Benzema during the Euro 2016 friendly football match France vs Serbia at the Matmut Atlantique stadium in Bordeaux on September 7, 2015. (FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)

Benzema and Giroud have a strong rivalry. Our striker replaced Benzema in France’s starting line-up, helping him to go on to overtake the 29-year-old’s goal tally for his country (27).  Although, of course, neither of them would probably admit there’s bitterness there out loud.

The Real Madrid forward publicly trolled Giroud back in March by liking a picture on Instagram, which made fun of the big guy’s lack of trophies.

This could all be Banter™ for all we know and perhaps Benzema is poking fun at the media always comparing the two forwards, seeing as Arsenal have been linked with the Real man since Robin van Persie left in 2012 but signed Giroud.

I get the feeling it’s not though.