Karim Mostafa Benzema, born on December 19, 1987, in Lyon, France, is a professional footballer who plays as a striker and captains the Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad. Known for his technical skills, vision, and versatility, Benzema is considered one of the best strikers of all time.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
He began his career with Lyon in 2005, contributing to the club's three consecutive Ligue 1 titles. In 2008, Benzema was named Ligue 1's Player of the Year, finishing as the league's top scorer and winning his fourth league title and first Coupe de France.
International Career
Benzema debuted for the French national team in 2007, accumulating 97 caps and scoring in three major tournaments. He won the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in 2004. Despite his talent, Benzema's international career was marred by controversy, including being excluded from the 2010 World Cup squad and a five-year absence from the national team due to a blackmail scandal in 2015. He returned to the French team before retiring from international football in December 2022. Benzema is France's sixth-highest all-time top scorer and has been named French Player of the Year four times. He won the Ballon d'Or in 2022, becoming the third-oldest recipient of the award.
Real Madrid Tenure
In 2009, Benzema transferred to Real Madrid for €35 million, setting a French record at the time. His initial season was challenging, but he soon established himself as a key player. Alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, Benzema formed the "BBC" trio, crucial to Real Madrid's four Champions League titles between 2014 and 2018. After Ronaldo's departure in 2018, Benzema became the focal point of Real Madrid's attack, earning numerous individual accolades, including La Liga Best Player and the Pichichi Trophy. He won a total of 24 trophies with Real Madrid, including four La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey titles, and five UEFA Champions League titles. He left Real Madrid in 2023 to join Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad.
Playing Style
Benzema is celebrated for his creativity, technical skills, vision, and versatility. Known for his finishing and playmaking abilities, he is proficient with both feet and strong in the air. His former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti described him as "the best striker in the world" in 2021. Benzema is praised for his work rate, tactical intelligence, positional sense, and attacking movement.
Honors and Awards
During his illustrious career, Karim Benzema has garnered numerous accolades. With Lyon, he won four Ligue 1 titles, a Coupe de France, and two Trophée des Champions. At Real Madrid, he amassed 24 trophies, including four La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey titles, five UEFA Champions League titles, four UEFA Super Cups, and five FIFA Club World Cups. Internationally, he won the UEFA European Under-17 Championship with France and the UEFA Nations League in 2020–21. Individually, Benzema was awarded the Ballon d'Or in 2022, named UEFA Men's Player of the Year for 2021–22, and won the Pichichi Trophy in 2021–22. He has been recognized as French Player of the Year four times and included in multiple Team of the Season selections across various competitions.
Benzema's career is marked by his consistent excellence, adaptability, and numerous individual and team accolades. He is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in football history.
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