Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois hailed teammate Karim Benzema after his hat-trick in their Champions League defeat of PSG.

Real were 2-0 on aggregate before a 17 minute hat-trick from Benzema saw them win the round 16 tie 3-2.

Courtois said, "Karim is, along with (Robert) Lewandowski, the best number 9 in the world right now. He's a great player, a real captain, and he carried the team to victory with his goals and his class.

"Across the two matches there were times when Paris were very comfortable in possession but 90 minutes is a long time in the Bernabéu. Tonight, Benzema showed again why he's the number one striker in the world. It's time he was at the top of the Ballon D'Or rankings."