Dive into the world of football with 30 captivating facts about Karim Benzema, Real Madrid’s star striker
Early Life and Career
- Full Name: Karim Mostafa Benzema
- Birth Date: December 19, 1987
- Birthplace: Lyon, France
- Algerian Descent: Parents are French nationals of Algerian origin
- Youth Clubs: Began at AS Des Buers Villeurbanne, then Bron, before joining Lyon
- Professional Debut: With Lyon, where he played from 2004 to 2009
- Lyon Impact: Won the Ligue 1 title four times and was named the Ligue 1 Player of the Year in 2008
Real Madrid and Achievements
- Transfer to Real Madrid: In 2009 for around €35 million
- Champions League Success: Won five UEFA Champions League titles with Real Madrid
- La Liga Titles: Secured four La Liga titles
- Real Madrid’s Second-Highest Scorer: With 342 goals, behind Cristiano Ronaldo
- Versatile Player: Known for his goal-scoring, technical skills, and ability to link play
- Fastest El Clásico Goal: Scored the opening goal just 21 seconds after kick-off in 2011
International Career
- French National Team: Represented France at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2008 and 2021 UEFA Euros
- International Goals: Scored 37 goals for France
- Retirement: Announced his retirement from the national team after the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Personal Life
- Family: Grew up with four sisters and three brothers
- Sibling Footballers: Two of his siblings, Gressy and Sabri, were also footballers
- Jersey Numbers: Wore #10 at Lyon, #11 initially at Real Madrid, and then #9
- Quiet Personality: Known for his reserved demeanor and rarely speaks to the media
Physical Attributes
- Height: 1.85 m
- Playing Position: Striker
Current Club
- Al-Ittihad: As of 2023, plays for and captains Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad
Recognition
- UEFA Nations League: Winner with France in 2021
- FIFA World Cup: Runner-up with France in 2022
- UEFA European Under-17 Championship: Winner in 2004 with France
Health and Fitness
- Weight Loss: Advised to lose weight in 2011, went to a clinic in Italy, and returned eight kilograms lighter
- Injured Finger: Suffered a finger fracture in 2019 but postponed surgery to continue playing
Off the Field
- Movie: A movie about his life, ‘Le K Benzema’, was released in 2017
- Charitable Work: Involved in charitable causes including children’s education and cancer research
