Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for the France national team and La Liga side Real Madrid. Described as an immensely-talented striker, Benzema is known for his technical ability, powerful style of play, and vast goal-scoring ability. He is Real Madrid's all-time second-highest goalscorer and top assist provider and is regarded as one of the best forwards of all time.

Early Life

Karim Benzema was born on December 19, 1987, in Lyon, France. He grew up in the neighborhood of Bron, where he began playing football at a young age. He showed early promise as a footballer and began playing for his local club, AS Bron Terraillon, at the age of eight. He quickly caught the attention of scouts from bigger clubs in the region and joined the academy of Olympique Lyonnais.

Club Career

Karim Benzema started his professional career at Olympique Lyonnais, where he made his debut in January 2005 at the age of 17. He quickly became a regular in the team and helped Lyon win four consecutive Ligue 1 titles between 2005 and 2008. During his time at Lyon, Benzema scored a total of 66 goals in 148 appearances and was named the Ligue 1 Player of the Year in 2008.

In July 2009, Benzema joined Real Madrid for a fee reported to be around €35 million, making him one of the most expensive transfers in football history at the time. He struggled to adapt to the high expectations at the club in his first season, but gradually found his form in the following seasons.

Benzema has since become one of the most successful and prolific strikers in Real Madrid's history, winning numerous domestic and international titles with the club. He formed deadly attacking partnerships with other star players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and Vinicius Jr. After an outstanding 2022-23 season at a club and individual level, Benzema won his first Ballon d’Or at the age of 34. He has scored over 340 goals in 633 appearances, winning four UEFA Champions League titles, four FIFA Club World Cups, three La Liga titles, and two Copa del Rey titles with the club, among other honors.

International Career

Benzema made his debut for France in March 2007 in a friendly against Austria. He was a key player for France in their qualification campaign for the 2010 World Cup, scoring five goals in nine games. However, he was left out of the squad for the tournament by then-coach Raymond Domenech.

He once again became a regular in the team during their successful qualification campaign for the 2014 World Cup, scoring three goals in eight games. However, he was not able to make an impact at the tournament itself, as France were eliminated in the quarter-finals by eventual champions Germany.

Benzema's international career came to a halt in late 2015, when he was suspended from the team by the French Football Federation (FFF) over his alleged involvement in a blackmail scandal involving another player. He was later cleared of any wrongdoing.

In June 2021, Benzema was recalled to the French national team for the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament after a gap of over five years. He played a key role in the team's run to the round of 16, scoring four goals in four games.

He has scored 37 goals in 97 appearances for France.

Records

• Benzema is the second all-time top scorer for Real Madrid, with over 340 goals in more than 630 appearances for the club.

• Benzema has been named to the Ligue 1 Team of the Year four times and has won the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award once.

• Benzema is the first player since Michel Platini to score two goals in a European Championship game for France, which he achieved in the team's 2-2 draw against Portugal in the UEFA Euro 2020 group stage.

Awards and Achievements

Personal Life

Benzema is known for his fashion sense and has been featured in several fashion magazines, including GQ and Vogue Hommes. He is a fan of basketball and has been seen attending games of the NBA team Miami Heat. He is also known for his love of fast cars and has been spotted driving a variety of luxury vehicles over the years, including a Lamborghini and a Bugatti.

In 2015, Benzema was arrested and charged with complicity in an attempted blackmail case involving his French national team teammate Mathieu Valbuena. He was later cleared of any wrongdoing in 2021.

Net Worth

As of 2023, his net worth is estimated to be around $75 million.

Family

Benzema's parents, Hafid and Wahida Benzema, were immigrants from Algeria who moved to France in the 1970s. He has six brothers and two sisters, and he has often spoken about the importance of family in his life.

Benzema's father was a construction worker, and his mother was a cleaning lady. Two of his brothers, Gressy and Sabri, are professional footballers who has played for several lower-league French clubs.

Partner

Benzema’s ex-girlfriend Chloé de Launay gave birth to his daughter Melia in February 2014. On 5 May 2017, his girlfriend Cora Gauthier gave birth to their son Ibrahim.

Houses

In 2015, Benzema purchased a mansion in Madrid's exclusive La Finca neighborhood for a reported €5 million. The property is spread over 1,500 square meters and features an indoor swimming pool, a gym, a home cinema, and a garage that can accommodate up to 10 cars.

Benzema also owns a luxurious apartment in the heart of Paris, which he purchased in 2016 for a reported €7.5 million. The apartment is spread over two floors and features a terrace with panoramic views of the city.

Benzema also owns a villa on the French Riviera, which he reportedly purchased for €4 million in 2013. The property features a swimming pool, a tennis court, and a home cinema.