Karim Benzema · Biography

Karim Benzema is a French footballer of Algerian descent who plays for Real Madrid Club de Fútbol in the Spanish First Division of soccer and was born on December 19, 1987 in Lyon (Rhône-Alpes). His demarcation is that of center forward in a Merengue team that plays its matches at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Until a few years ago, he was a regular in the French national soccer team; however, problems unrelated to soccer made the French striker not to wear the French national team jersey again.

The Real Madrid striker wears the number 9, is 1.85 meters tall and weighs 81 kg. Since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema has emerged as one of the leaders of a Real Madrid team that has found in the French nine one of its most special players.

Humble beginnings

Karim Benzema began his training at Bron Terraillon S. C., a local team from his native Rhône-Alpes region of France. He remained there until he was nine years old, as his good performances for his hometown French team attracted the attention of France's top youth teams. Finally, after leaving behind his time at Bron Terraillon S.C., Karim Benzema joined French giants Olympique Lyon. Several scouts from Lyon convinced the now Real Madrid striker, who was facing a new and exciting challenge.

In his first season with OL, Benzema scored 38 goals for the U16 team and 12 goals in 14 games for the U18 team. His stellar appearances in both of Lyon's youth teams contributed to Paul Le Guen's call-up to the first team.

His inclusion in the first team, as told by the French player himself, was amusing, as Karim Benzema, in the now customary presentation of youth players when they arrive in the first team, said: "Don't laugh, I've come to take your place! A young and inexperienced French striker landed in Lyon's first-team dressing room with the enthusiasm and desire to make a name for himself in the French team par excellence.

Debut, first goal and explosion

His official debut came on January 15, 2005, when Lyon beat FC Metz by two goals to nil. In that match, the French striker, who would later play for Real Madrid, came on in the 77th minute and provided the assist that led to the home side's second goal. After making his debut with the first team, the good sensations offered by the French striker led Olympique Lyon to offer him his first professional contract; a contract for the next three years, i.e. until 2008.

His next two seasons were irregular and intermittent, as Karim Benzema continued to seek minutes and opportunities that did not come until the year of his explosion, in the 2007-2008 season. The departure of players like Carew, Malouda or Wiltord benefited both sides, club and player, as Karim Benzema 's role became fundamental and he emerged as a young leader with fresh and renewed ideas. That season, Benzema decided to change his number 10 shirt. His good performances led the striker of Algerian descent to establish himself in the starting lineups of Alain Perrin, coach of the French side at the time.

That same season he scored a total of 31 goals in 51 games, emerging as the top scorer in the French Ligue 1. He also scored his first goals in the UEFA Champions League, one of Karim Benzema's favorite competitions. He also scored his first hat-trick, scoring three goals against FC Metz (September 15, 2007).

His superlative appearances with the first team and his subsequent performance in his breakthrough season led Lyon fans to start calling him Karim The Dream, a direct reference to his quality, his talent, his ability to score and to create space for his teammates, which is why he wore the number 10, as he was always a striker with the soul of a playmaker.

His contract with the Lyon club lasted until 2013 with an option for another year. This new idyll came at one of the best moments for Karim Benzema, who became the highest-paid player in the first team. Once again, his sensational soccer and the gift of ubiquity that the French striker has always possessed made him one of the possible winners of the Ballon d'Or in 2008, an award that would end up in the hands of Cristiano Ronaldo; what a capricious destiny.

The French striker's performances continued to grow until 2009, when Benzema's time with his former club, Olympique Lyon, came to an end, as the French striker was tempted by Real Madrid. However, the Spanish club was not the only one interested in acquiring his services. Manchester United and Chelsea also kept a close eye on the movements of one of France's most promising players.

Real Madrid: the arrival of a different player

On July 1, 2009, Real Madrid officially announced the arrival of Karim Benzema, who arrived in the Spanish capital after two excellent seasons in the colors of the team that saw him grow up, Olympique Lyon. The amount was 35 million and the French striker arrived with the sign of promise and a different player, as his demarcation is that of a striker, but among his main and best features are his vision and his ability to associate with his teammates as if he were a midfielder. The Lyon (Rhône-Alpes) born player signed a six-year contract and enjoyed a dream presentation attended by nearly 16,000 people.

Benzema played his first minutes in the white jersey on July 20, 2009 in a preseason match against Shamrock Rovers, a team against which he scored his first goal in a Real Madrid shirt. A month later, on August 24 of the same year, the French striker scored again, this time against Rosenborg in the Santiago Bernabéu Trophy. He went on to score five goals in the white preseason.

His debut in the Spanish domestic competition came against Deportivo de la Coruña, although Karim Benzema scored his first LaLiga goal against Xerez Club Deportivo. During his first few appearances as a Real Madrid player, the French striker struggled to win the favor of the ever-demanding Madrid fans. However, the arrival of Mounrinho marked a turning point for the player of Algerian descent.

Benzema managed a run of eleven goals in 16 games in a sensational start to the campaign for the Gallic nine in the 2011 season. Similarly, Benzema ended the season with a total of 26 goals in all competitions, an excellent figure for a player in the midst of reconstruction and in search of his best version.

Duel of titans up front

Despite not getting off to a good start in his career at Real Madrid and after being continuously criticized by the white fans, Karim Benzema won the battle against Gonzalo Higuaín for the starting striker's position. The Argentine striker, who was not playing his best soccer either, was relegated to the bench thanks to the explosion and emergence of a Karim Benzema with more goals and more presence in the area.

His brilliant performances and his idyll with the goal led the French striker to become one of the stars of Real Madrid from the 10/11 to the 13/14 season. However, the ups and downs threatened the Olympique Lyon-trained player from time to time. With the passing of time and the passing of the matchdays, the Merengue fans were able to better understand the characteristic soccer of a Benzema who at certain times looked more like a midfielder than a striker, which is why he is always spoken of as a special and different player.

In the meantime, Gonzalo Higuain left Real Madrid for the Italian league, specifically Napoli. As a result, Benzema ended up earning his place as the first-choice center forward.

Mobility and vision

Since his arrival in the Spanish capital in 2011, Karim Benzema has always emerged as a differential and misunderstood player. His partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo was very important for the interests of the three involved, both players and the white entity itself. In Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema found a player who started from the left flank but who could occupy space in the box, which led the French striker to emerge as a superlative assistant and a superlative creator of space.

The partnership formed by the Frenchman and the Portuguese was full of successes that will remain forever marked in the history of Real Madrid. With the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus, the striker trained in the youth ranks of Lyon was left without the man who until then had been his best partner. As a result, Benzema was one of the main victims of the Portuguese star's departure.

New roles and more goals

Until the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema had accumulated a total of nine goals and four assists in his first season at Real Madrid (09/10), 26 goals and ten assists in his second campaign (10/11), 32 goals and 16 assists in the 11/12 season, twenty goals and nineteen assists in the following season, 12/13, 24 goals and thirteen assists in the 13/14 campaign, 22 goals and thirteen assists in the 13/14 campaign, 22 goals and thirteen assists in the 13/14 campaign, 22 goals and thirteen assists in the 13/14 campaign, and a total of nine goals and thirteen assists in the 13/14 campaign.a 13/14, 22 goals and thirteen assists in his sixth season at Real Madrid, 28 goals and seven assists in his seventh season in the Spanish capital, 19 goals and seven assists in his eighth and twelve goals and eleven assists in the season of Cristiano Ronaldo's departure. A total of 192 goals and 100 assists sharing the attacking zone with his best partner.

The departure of Cristiano Ronaldo meant that the burden of goals fell, even more, on Karim Benzema, who was once again discussed by Real Madrid fans in the 18/19 season, as he went through a period of drought in terms of goals. However, the French striker went on to score 30 goals and 10 assists, superlative figures in the midst of the rebuilding of a depleted Viking side.

In the 2019-20 season and until the break caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Karim Benzema had 19 goals and nine assists. In addition, that same campaign he accumulated 100 games in the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid. He also played a key role in Real Madrid 's victory over renowned rivals such as Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona. In the derby, the Frenchman scored the only goal of the match after a brilliant assist from teammate and compatriot Ferland Mendy. Likewise, the arrival of Zinedine Zidane to the Chamartin bench was decisive for the Frenchman, as the French coach has always trusted in his abilities and skills to be Real Madrid's starting nine. With his goal against Atlético de Madrid and his subsequent goals against teams like Betis, Benzema, with 161, surpassed Luis Aragonés (160) and Samuel Eto'o (162) in goals scored in LaLiga Santander.

France national team

On March 28, 20007, thirteen years ago, Benzema was called up for the first time to the French national team to play his first minutes in the France jersey against Austria. In the same match, the now Real Madrid franchise player scored his first goal. He also scored against the Faroe Islands in a match in which Karim The Dream shone above all his teammates.

KarimBenzema has become a regular in the France national soccer team's call-ups. However and due to extra-sporting issues that took place between 2014 and 2015, the Real Madrid player was never called up again by Didier Deschamps and was sidelined from combined soccer. The veto suffered by the French top institution deprived him, among many other things, to dispute the Euro 2020 (postponed to 2021).

Plays and actions to remember

His eleven seasons so far at Real Madrid have left countless moments that Real Madrid fans will never forget. Among his best actions or goals, the goal scored by the Frenchman at El Sadar stands out above all others. In that goal, the French striker emulated Van Basten and scored a superlative goal that was applauded by the home team's fans.

For those nostalgic for the always vibrant Champions League nights, Benzema scored against Ajax Amsterdam a goal of extreme beauty that is already history in the European competition par excellence. The goal scored by the OL-trained striker was a semi-chilena and astonished the European scene.

Finally, his exquisite dribble against the Atletico Madrid backline in a tie in which Real Madrid came out on top will go down in the annals of history, as the French striker brilliantly dribbled past the pressure of three of the four members of the Colchonera defense. His action ended with a back pass that Toni Kroos did not take advantage of, but which Isco made good use of, as the Malagueño ended up scoring a crucial goal for Los Blancos.

In general terms and since his emergence from the ranks of Olympique Lyon, Karim Benzema has always emerged as a distinct, different, special and differential player. His vision and ability to play as a team player have never matched the striker that was expected at Real Madrid. However, in the French striker, Real Madrid has one of its best players in history, as the numbers speak for themselves.

Biography by Javi García.