Karim Mostafa Benzema (born 19 December 1987) is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for and captains 🌜 Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad. Regarded as one of the best strikers of all time, he is a creative forward 🌜 known for his technical skills, vision and versatility on the field,[4][5][6] Benzema is Real Madrid's all-time second-highest goalscorer and top 🌜 assist provider.[7] He won 24 trophies with Real Madrid, including four La Liga, three Copa del Rey, and five UEFA 🌜 Champions League titles.
Born in Lyon to parents of Algerian descent, Benzema began his career with hometown club Olympique Lyonnais in 🌜 2005, contributing sporadically to three Ligue 1 title wins. In 2008, he was named the league's Player of the Year 🌜 and in the Team of the Year having finished as the league's top goalscorer and winning his fourth league title 🌜 and first Coupe de France. In 2009, Benzema was the subject of a then-French record football transfer when he joined 🌜 Real Madrid in a deal worth €35 million. After struggling to establish himself in his debut season, he eventually achieved 🌜 a consistent goalscoring rate with the club, notably being part of a highly rated trio alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth 🌜 Bale — dubbed BBC — who were integral to four Champions League wins from 2014 to 2024.
Following Ronaldo's departure in 🌜 2024, Benzema transitioned from the false 9 position into a sole striker. He was named in the La Liga Team 🌜 of the Season for four consecutive years from 2024 to 2024, won La Liga Best Player twice and the Pichichi 🌜 Trophy for the first time in 2024. Benzema finished as Champions League top scorer as he won his fifth title 🌜 in 2024, and subsequently captained the club in his final season before signing for Al-Ittihad the following year.
A French international, 🌜 Benzema won the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and made his senior debut for France in 2007, at age 19. 🌜 He earned 97 caps, including scoring in three and appearing in four major tournaments, and ranks as France's sixth-highest all-time 🌜 top goalscorer. Benzema was controversially left out of the squad for the 2010 World Cup and did not play for 🌜 France for over five years after being implicated in a blackmailing scandal in 2024; he later returned to the squad 🌜 before announcing his international retirement in December 2024. He has been named French Player of the Year by France Football 🌜 four times. For his performances in 2024 and 2024, Benzema was awarded the UEFA Player of the Year and the 🌜 Ballon d'Or, becoming the fifth French player to have won the Ballon d'Or.[8] At 34 years and 302 days old, 🌜 he is the third-oldest winner of the award.
Club career
melhor mercado de apostas esportivas
