Karim Benzema: Early Life, Clubs, Family, Net Worth, Career and Stats

Karim Benzema is a French professional footballer who played for France’s national team, Ligue 1 Side Lyon, La Liga side Real Madrid, and Saudi Pro League Al-Ittihad in the forward position. He is Real Madrid’s all-time second-highest goalscorer and top assist provider. He is better known for his playmaking and finishing and is also considered one of his generation’s best strikers.

Early Life

Karim Benzema was born in Lyon, France on December 19, 1987, to Algerian Desents who are French Nationalists. His Grandfather, Da Lakehal Benzema migrated from Tigzit, Algeria to Lyon, France in the late 1950s. He is the third-youngest child among eight siblings and his younger brothers Gressy and Sabri have the same passion for Football and played for the youth academy in their hometown, where Karim grew up.

He started his career at the age of 6 in 1993 for AS Des Buers Villeurbanne club and played for his hometown club Bron from 1996 to 1997 but he got recognition when he started playing for Lyon’s youth academy in 1997. 

Also Read: Al-Ittihad: A Quick Roundup of The Summer Transfer Window 2023

Club Career

Benzema started his Youth career at his Hometown club Terraillon SC at the age of eight. He came into the scout’s raider when he scored 2 goals in an under-10 match against the Lyon youth academy. After that, he was signed to Lyon Youth Academy and Scored 38 goals in the Championnat National des 16 ans, the domestic league for under-16 youth players in France, and got promoted to Lyon’s reserve team.

He got his breakthrough at Lyon Senior Team in 2004 and won three consecutive league titles. He scored 66 goals in 148 games for Lyon and established his position in the team. In 2009, he was transferred to Spanish Gaint Real Madrid at the price of 35 Million euros. Soon after transferring to Real Madrid, he played an important role in the Club’s Success and formed one of the best trio of the generation along with Cristiano Rolando and Gareth Bale.

He won 4 La Liga Titles, 5 UEFA Champions League titles, and 5 FIFA Club World Cups. He Scored the Fastest Hat Trick in the Club’s history On April 2, 2023, against Real Valladolid in 6 minutes and 30 seconds, and in 2023, he was the second player in the club’s history to score a Hat Trick against Barcelona in Camp Nou in the Copa del Rey semi-finals. He was the Ballon d’Or winner of 2022. On 4 June, Real Madrid confirmed that Benzema would depart from the club after the 2022/23 Season. 

On 6 June 2023, Karim Benzema was signed by the Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad on a free transfer and he made his debut for the club Al-Ittihad on July 27, 2023, against Espérance de Tunis in the Arab Club Champions Cup. 

International Career 

Karim Benzema made his International Debut for France’s U-17 team in the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. He played two matches in the tournament. On his Debut, he scored 1 Goal against Northern Ireland and won the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. Later on, he got a call from the U-18 team and performed well in the competition. 

In Euro 2008, he was called by the senior team and made his senior team debut on 9 November 2006 for the team’s friendly match against Greece. He was omitted from the 2010 France World Cup Squad but in Euro 2012 he retired to the National Team and in 2014 he was selected for the 2014 France World Cup Squad. From 2016-2020, he was excluded from the senior team due to the rift between him and France team administration.

In May 2021, he returned to the France national squad, with his goal against Belgium he overtook Zidane in France scoring records to become the 6th top scorer in their history and won the UEFA Nationals League- 2021. He was player of the match in the final. He played an important role in the 2022 World Cup Qualifier, he was included in France’s final squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup but missed the World Cup due to a thigh injury.

Despite not playing in the FIFA World Cup, he was still awarded the silver medal. He retired from International Football in the 2023 World Cup Defeat. He was the Most Decorated Frenchman in football history with 27 Titles. With his 97 appearances for the France, he scored 37 goals. 

Karim Benzema Stats

Awards and Achievements 

Family

Karim Benzema was born to Algerian Descent Hafid Benzema and Wahida Djebbara. His Father is a Businessman and his mother is a Homemaker. He has 8 siblings, 6 brothers and 2 sisters. Two of his younger brothers Gressy and Sabri are also Footballer. They played for the Vaulx-le-Velin in the Division d’Honneur, the sixth division of French football. 

He is practicing Islam and openly spoke about his Faith. Benzema has one daughter from his ex-girlfriend Chloé de Launay and one boy from his ex-girlfriend Cora Gauthier. He has been dating American model Jordan Ozuna since 2022 and gave birth to his fourth child. In 2023, Ozuna converted to Islam.

Net Worth 

As of 2023, Karim Benzema’s net worth is estimated to be around $70-80 million.