Christian Benteke facts for kids
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Benteke playing for Belgium in 2017
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 3 December 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Kinshasa, Zaire | ||
| Height | 1.90 m | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | D.C. United | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1996–2004 | JS Pierreuse | ||
| 2004–2006 | Standard Liège | ||
| 2006–2007 | Genk | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2007–2009 | Genk | 10 | (1) |
| 2009–2011 | Standard Liège | 18 | (3) |
| 2009–2010 | → Kortrijk (loan) | 34 | (14) |
| 2010–2011 | → Mechelen (loan) | 18 | (6) |
| 2011–2012 | Genk | 37 | (19) |
| 2012–2015 | Aston Villa | 89 | (42) |
| 2015–2016 | Liverpool | 29 | (9) |
| 2016–2022 | Crystal Palace | 162 | (35) |
| 2022– | D.C. United | 68 | (38) |
| National team | |||
| 2007 | Belgium U17 | 11 | (6) |
| 2007–2008 | Belgium U18 | 7 | (3) |
| 2008–2009 | Belgium U19 | 10 | (10) |
| 2009–2012 | Belgium U21 | 9 | (4) |
| 2010–2022 | Belgium | 45 | (18) |
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Christian Benteke Liolo (born 3 December 1990) is a professional footballer from Belgium. He plays as a striker for Major League Soccer club D.C. United.
Benteke started his career at Standard Liège in Belgium. He helped them win the Belgian league title in 2009. After playing for Genk, he moved to Aston Villa in England for about £7 million. He scored 49 goals in 124 games for Villa. He then played one season for Liverpool, scoring 10 goals. In 2016, he joined Crystal Palace.
Christian Benteke also played for the Belgian national team. He played 45 games for Belgium between 2010 and 2022. He missed the 2014 FIFA World Cup due to an injury. However, he was part of the team that reached the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2016 and Euro 2020.
Contents
Early Life and Start in Football
Christian Benteke was born in Kinshasa, which is now the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in 1990. When he was young, his family moved to Liège, Belgium, in 1993. They left their home during a difficult time in their country.
He began playing youth football at JS Pierreuse. Later, he joined the youth teams of Standard Liège and Genk.
Club Career Highlights
Playing in Belgium
Benteke returned to Standard Liège in 2009. He scored three goals and helped the club win the Belgian championship.
He then went on loan to KV Kortrijk for a season. There, he scored 14 goals in the Belgian Pro League. This helped Kortrijk achieve their best-ever finish. The next season, he was loaned to KV Mechelen, where he scored seven goals.
In 2011, Benteke went back to Genk. He had a great season, scoring 16 goals and helping with nine assists in 20 games. After starting the 2012–13 season with three goals in five matches, he caught the eye of English clubs.
Moving to Aston Villa
On 31 August 2012, Benteke joined Premier League club Aston Villa. He signed a four-year contract for about £7 million.
Amazing First Season (2012–13)
Benteke scored on his very first game for Aston Villa on 15 September 2012. He came on as a substitute and scored in a 2–0 win against Swansea City. His manager, Paul Lambert, was very impressed with his performance.
He continued to score important goals, including two against Liverpool in a 3–1 away win. By Christmas, other top clubs were already noticing him. He scored his 10th goal of the season with a long shot against West Bromwich Albion.
Benteke was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award because of his fantastic first season. On 29 April, he scored his first hat-trick for Aston Villa in a big 6–1 win against Sunderland. These goals meant he scored more Premier League goals in a season than any other Aston Villa player before him (18 goals). He also became the first Villa player since 2004 to score over 20 goals in all competitions.
Injuries and Comebacks
After his great first season, Benteke's 23 goals led to rumors about him leaving. But after talking with his manager, he signed a new four-year contract with Aston Villa.
He started the 2013–14 Premier League season strong, scoring two goals in Villa's 3–1 win against Arsenal. However, he later suffered a hip injury that kept him out for a few weeks.
On 3 April 2014, Benteke had a serious injury. He tore his achilles tendon during training. This meant he missed the rest of the season and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
He returned for the 2014–15 season. On 7 April, he scored his second Premier League hat-trick in a 3–3 draw with Queens Park Rangers. He scored 11 goals in nine matches after Tim Sherwood became manager. In April, he was named the Premier League Player of the Month. He helped Villa reach the 2015 FA Cup Final, their first in fifteen years.
Time at Liverpool
On 22 July 2015, Liverpool signed Benteke for £32.5 million. This made him one of their most expensive players at the time. He scored his first league goal for Liverpool in a 1–0 home win against Bournemouth. He also scored a cool overhead kick against rivals Manchester United.
Benteke scored the only goal in a 1–0 win against league leaders Leicester City on 26 December. He was also named captain for an FA Cup game against Exeter City. He finished his only season at Liverpool with 10 goals in 42 games.
Playing for Crystal Palace
On 20 August 2016, Benteke joined Crystal Palace for £27 million. He scored his first goal for Palace in his second league game, a 2–1 win against Middlesbrough. On his birthday, 3 December 2016, he scored two goals in a 3–0 win against Southampton. He also scored two goals against his old club Liverpool in a 2–1 win. He was Crystal Palace's top scorer in his first season, with 15 league goals.
The next few seasons were tougher for Benteke, with fewer goals due to injuries and loss of form. However, he signed a new contract in October 2019. In May 2021, he scored a header against his former club Aston Villa. This was his 31st headed goal in the Premier League, putting him in the top 10 all-time for headed goals. He also scored in four straight Premier League games for the first time in eight years.
Moving to D.C. United
In August 2022, Benteke moved to the MLS club D.C. United in the United States. He joined as a "Designated Player", which means his salary doesn't fully count towards the team's salary cap.
He scored his first goal for D.C. United on 18 September 2022. In April 2023, he scored an amazing bicycle kick goal against Charlotte FC. This goal was named the MLS Goal of the Matchday. On 23 September, he scored his first hat-trick for the club. He finished his first full season with D.C. United with 14 goals in 31 games.
In the opening game of the 2024 MLS season, Benteke scored another hat-trick against New England Revolution. He scored a second hat-trick in May against Atlanta United. Benteke finished the 2024 season winning the MLS Golden Boot with 23 goals. He also set a new club record for most goals in a single season with 25 goals across all competitions.
International Career
Benteke played for the Belgium U17 team in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He played three games and scored one goal.
He made his debut for the senior Belgian national team on 19 May 2010. On 15 August 2012, he scored his first goal for Belgium in a 4–2 win against the Netherlands. He became a regular player for Belgium.
He scored two goals during the qualifying games for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. However, he couldn't play in the World Cup because of his Achilles tendon injury.
Benteke returned to the Belgian squad for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. He played in the tournament in France, helping Belgium reach the quarter-finals.
On 10 October 2016, Benteke set a record for the fastest goal ever scored in a World Cup qualifying match. He scored after just 8.1 seconds against Gibraltar. He scored two more goals in that game, completing his first hat-trick for Belgium.
He was part of the team for UEFA Euro 2020.
Personal Life
Christian Benteke is a Christian. He supports the English football club Arsenal.
Media
Benteke's goal celebration, where he beats his chest, is inspired by basketball star LeBron James. This celebration even appears in the video game FIFA 18.
Career Statistics
Club
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| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Genk | 2007–08 | Belgian Pro League | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 7 | 1 | ||
| 2008–09 | Belgian Pro League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 10 | 1 | ||||
| Standard Liège | 2008–09 | Belgian Pro League | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 11 | 3 | ||
| 2010–11 | Belgian Pro League | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||||
| 2011–12 | Belgian Pro League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| Total | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 3 | |||
| Kortrijk (loan) | 2009–10 | Belgian Pro League | 34 | 14 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | 38 | 16 | |||
| Mechelen (loan) | 2010–11 | Belgian Pro League | 18 | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 20 | 7 | |||
| Genk | 2011–12 | Belgian Pro League | 32 | 16 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 33 | 16 | ||
| 2012–13 | Belgian Pro League | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 1 | — | 8 | 4 | |||
| Total | 37 | 19 | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 1 | — | 41 | 20 | ||||
| Aston Villa | 2012–13 | Premier League | 34 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | — | — | 39 | 23 | ||
| 2013–14 | Premier League | 26 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 28 | 11 | |||
| 2014–15 | Premier League | 29 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 15 | |||
| Total | 89 | 42 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 5 | — | — | 101 | 49 | ||||
| Liverpool | 2015–16 | Premier League | 29 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | — | 42 | 10 | |
| Crystal Palace | 2016–17 | Premier League | 36 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 17 | ||
| 2017–18 | Premier League | 31 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 3 | |||
| 2018–19 | Premier League | 16 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 1 | |||
| 2019–20 | Premier League | 24 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 2 | |||
| 2020–21 | Premier League | 30 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 10 | |||
| 2021–22 | Premier League | 25 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 4 | |||
| Total | 162 | 35 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 177 | 37 | ||||
| D.C. United | 2022 | Major League Soccer | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 1 | ||||
| 2023 | Major League Soccer | 31 | 14 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 34 | 14 | |||
| 2024 | Major League Soccer | 30 | 23 | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 33 | 25 | ||||
| Total | 68 | 38 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 2 | 74 | 40 | ||||
| Career total | 465 | 166 | 28 | 7 | 12 | 5 | 16 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 528 | 182 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 2010 | 3 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 6 | 4 | |
| 2013 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 6 | 3 | |
| 2017 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 3 | 3 | |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 2 | 1 | |
| Total | 45 | 18 | |
- Scores and results list Belgium's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Benteke goal
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 August 2012 | King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium | 5 |  Netherlands |
1–0 | 4–2 | Friendly |
| 2 | 12 October 2012 | Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia | 7 |  Serbia |
1–0 | 3–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 16 October 2012 | King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium | 8 |  Scotland |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 14 November 2012 | Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania | 9 |  Romania |
1–0 | 1–2 | Friendly |
| 5 | 29 May 2013 | FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, United States | 12 |  United States |
2–1 | 4–2 | Friendly |
| 6 | 4–1 | ||||||
| 7 | 28 March 2015 | King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium | 20 |  Cyprus |
2–0 | 5–0 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |
| 8 | 10 October 2016 | Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé, Portugal | 30 |  Gibraltar |
1–0 | 6–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 9 | 3–0 | ||||||
| 10 | 5–0 | ||||||
| 11 | 28 March 2017 | Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi, Russia | 32 |  Russia |
1–2 | 3–3 | Friendly |
| 12 | 1–3 | ||||||
| 13 | 10 October 2019 | King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium | 35 |  San Marino |
7–0 | 9–0 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification |
| 14 | 19 November 2019 | King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium | 37 | Cyprus |
1–1 | 6–1 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification |
| 15 | 6–1 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification | |||||
| 16 | 30 March 2021 | Den Dreef, Leuven, Belgium | 39 |  Belarus |
6–0 | 8–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 17 | 13 November 2021 | King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium | 43 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 18 | 29 March 2022 | Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht, Belgium | 45 | 3–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
- Note that the friendly of Belgium against Romania on 14 November 2012 is not an FIFA A-match due to an excessive number of substitutions according to the Laws of the Game.
Awards and Achievements
Standard Liège
- Belgian First Division: 2008–09 (Winner)
Aston Villa
- FA Cup runner-up: 2014–15 (Second place)
Liverpool
- Football League Cup runner-up: 2015–16 (Second place)
- UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2015–16 (Second place)
Individual Awards
- Premier League Player of the Month: April 2015
- MLS All-Star: 2023, 2024
- MLS Best XI: 2024
- MLS Golden Boot: 2024 (Top Scorer)
Images for kids
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Benteke playing for Belgium in 2017
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Benteke playing for Aston Villa in 2013
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Benteke playing for Crystal Palace in 2016
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Benteke playing for Belgium in 2013
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Benteke playing for Aston Villa in 2013
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See also
In Spanish: Christian Benteke para niños
