Barcelona hero Samuel Eto'o says Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema deserves greater recognition.

Benzema struck a hat-trick in victory over Real Mallora this week.

"Obviously he's not getting the football recognition he deserves," Eto'o told AS of Benzema. "But that happens often in football.

"As far as I'm concerned, he is one of the players who has deserved to win a Ballon d'Or for years.

"But there have always been many such players: Raul, Paolo Maldini, Roberto Carlos... who never won the prize."