'The love is different' - Benteke on Villa, MLS and Messi

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.

But the striker is focused. He has signed on at DC for another year and is determined to be in the best shape possible when the 2025 campaign comes around in February.

"Messi and Ronaldo are four or five years older than me and they still play, so who are we not to push ourselves?," he told BBC Sport.

"It’s not luck. It’s hard work. They look after their bodies, which is something we can all do. We might not have their qualities or everything they have but as a high-elite athlete, we can all look after our bodies."

Benteke feels he is moving into a different phase of his career.

It is why, despite DC United’s relatively poor form, he has no regrets about extending his stay at the club having initially joined part-way through the 2022 season when Wayne Rooney was in charge.

Benteke does not crave attention the way he once did. Away from the field, he is quite happy to live a "normal" life. Relative anonymity in Washington is something he embraces.

"When you are younger you want people to stop you in the street," he said. "You want to have your picture taken or to sign autographs because you feel you are 'that guy', who is playing for a Premier League team, the most popular league in the world. This is something you want.

"But when you get older, you know it is your job and it’s what you have to do, to score goals and win games.

"In the US you can train and as soon as your session is done, you can have a normal life, walking to the park, going to the mall, meet up without having to hide or feeling uncomfortable, just to be a normal guy.

"This year will be my second Christmas. To be around my family and your kids is something you appreciate. When you play at the highest level, for a Premier League team, sometimes you can have Christmas morning at home but then you have to go."

Benteke still keeps across events in Europe and is delighted at how Villa have performed in this season’s Champions League.

"A huge club," the striker calls them. "With Liverpool it is more expected but Villa was my first team in England. The love is different. They haven’t been in the Champions League for a while so to see them playing well at Villa Park on a Tuesday or Wednesday is something nice."

Benteke, who has featured in two European Championships, has not played for Belgium since 2022. He was not selected for Euro 2024 and although the next World Cup is being played in his current home, it feels unlikely he will be involved then either.

He makes it clear the lack of involvement is not of his making.

"I am still playing in a very good league and I am still a professional so why should I retire from the national team?" he said.

"I am not obsessed about it and I am not putting any type of pressure or focus on it. But as long as I am playing, I will leave the door open. That is just common sense for me.

"It’s the day I retire from my club that will mean it is also the end for the national team."