Karim Benzema facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Karim Benzema

Benzema in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Karim Mostafa Benzema
Date of birth	(1987-12-19) 19 December 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth	Lyon, France
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Al-Ittihad
Number	9
Youth career
1993–1996	AS Des Buers Villeurbanne
1996–1997	Bron
1997–2005	Lyon
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2006	Lyon II	20	(15)
2004–2009	Lyon	112	(43)
2009–2023	Real Madrid	439	(238)
2023–	Al-Ittihad	56	(34)
International career
2004	France U17	4	(1)
2004–2005	France U18	17	(14)
2005–2006	France U19	9	(5)
2006	France U21	5	(0)
2007–2022	France	97	(37)
Medal record Men's football Representing  France UEFA Nations League Winner 2021 FIFA World Cup Runner-up 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship Winner 2004
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:54, 21 November 2025 (UTC)

Karim Mostafa Benzema (born on 19 December 1987) is a French professional footballer. He plays as a striker and captains the Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad. Many people consider him one of the best strikers ever. Benzema is known for his amazing technical skills, great vision, and ability to play in different parts of the field.

He won many trophies with Real Madrid, including four La Liga titles and five UEFA Champions League titles. He has scored more than 500 goals in his career for both his clubs and his country. For Real Madrid, he is the second-highest goalscorer in their history. In the Champions League, he has scored the most goals and provided the most assists for a French player.

Born in Lyon, France, Benzema started his career with his hometown club Lyon in 2005. He helped them win three Ligue 1 titles. In 2009, he made a big move to Real Madrid for €35 million. After a tough start, he became a key player. He was part of a famous attacking trio with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, helping Real Madrid win four Champions League titles between 2014 and 2018.

After Ronaldo left in 2018, Benzema became the main striker for Real Madrid. He won the Pichichi Trophy (for top scorer in La Liga) in 2022. He also captained the club in his final season before joining Al-Ittihad in 2023. He also played for the French national team, winning the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and the UEFA Nations League in 2021. He also received a medal when France finished second in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

For his amazing performances in 2021 and 2022, Benzema received the UEFA Player of the Year award and the prestigious Ballon d'Or. He was the fifth French player to win this award.

Karim Benzema: A Football Star

Early Days and Rising Talent

Karim Benzema started playing football at age eight with his local club, Bron Terraillon. His friends called him "Coco." He quickly caught the eye of Lyon's youth academy after scoring two goals against them.

Lyon officials wanted to sign him, but his club president initially refused. After talking with Karim's father, he was allowed to try out for Lyon. He officially joined their academy and quickly moved up through the youth ranks.

Becoming a Lyon Legend

Benzema was a ballboy for Lyon's senior team and did well in school. At age 16, he scored 38 goals in the national youth league. In the 2004–05 season, he joined Lyon's reserve team and scored ten goals.

He made his professional debut for Lyon's senior team in January 2005. He even assisted a goal in his first match. He signed his first professional contract that same month. Lyon won their fourth league title that season, and Karim was part of the team.

In the 2005–06 season, Karim scored his first professional goal in the UEFA Champions League against Rosenborg. He also scored his first league goal against Ajaccio. He started getting more playing time in the 2006–07 season, scoring in the first league match and two goals against Nice. Lyon won their sixth league title in a row.

For the 2007–08 season, Karim became a key player, wearing the number 10 shirt. He scored 31 goals in 51 games, helping Lyon win both the league and the Coupe de France. He scored a hat-trick against Metz and a dramatic equalizing goal against rivals Saint-Étienne. He also scored important goals in the Champions League.

In 2008, he signed a new contract, becoming one of France's highest-paid footballers. He was named the Ligue 1 Player of the Year and was the league's top scorer. He also won the Bravo Award for the best young player in Europe.

Real Madrid: A New Chapter

Joining the Galácticos

On 1 July 2009, Karim Benzema joined the Spanish club Real Madrid. It was a big transfer, costing €35 million. He signed a six-year deal and was introduced to thousands of fans at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

He scored in his first friendly match for Real Madrid against Shamrock Rovers. He also scored two goals in a friendly against Rosenborg. Karim made his league debut for Madrid in August 2009. He scored his first goal for the club in a 5–0 win against Xerez.

At first, Karim found it a bit hard to settle in Spain and learn the Spanish language. He sometimes started matches on the bench. However, he kept working hard and scored important goals, like the opener against Milan in the Champions League.

Finding His Stride

For the 2010–11 season, Karim switched to the number 9 shirt. His new manager, José Mourinho, encouraged him to work even harder. Karim took this advice and started to shine.

He scored his first Champions League hat trick for Real Madrid against Auxerre. He then scored another hat trick in the Copa del Rey against Levante. Karim became a regular starter after another striker got injured. He scored ten goals in eight matches, including a special goal against his former club Lyon, which he did not celebrate out of respect.

Real Madrid won the Copa del Rey that season, giving Karim his first trophy with the club. He finished the season with 26 goals, showing how much he had improved.

European Dominance with Real Madrid

Before the 2011–12 season, Karim worked hard to get fitter, losing weight and building muscle. This helped him become the main striker for Real Madrid. He scored a crucial goal against Barcelona in the 2011 Supercopa de España.

In November 2011, he scored five goals in a month. In December, he scored the fastest goal ever in an El Clásico match against Barcelona, just 21 seconds into the game. He was also named the French Player of the Year for his great performances.

Karim continued to score many goals, helping Real Madrid win their 32nd La Liga title. He became the top French scorer in La Liga history, passing Zinedine Zidane.

From 2013 to 2016, Karim was part of a famous attacking trio with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, known as "BBC." They scored many goals together. In 2014, he scored his 100th goal for Real Madrid. He also helped the team win the 2014 Copa del Rey final and the 2014 UEFA Champions League final. Real Madrid's "BBC" trio scored 97 goals that season!

In 2014, Karim signed a new contract until 2019. He scored Real Madrid's 1,000th goal in European competitions. He won the French Player of the Year award for the third time. He was a key player when Real Madrid won the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League.

Leading the Attack

From 2016 to 2018, Karim continued to be a vital part of Real Madrid's success. He helped them win the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup, scoring in the semi-final and the final. This was his tenth trophy with the club.

In 2017, he scored his 51st Champions League goal, passing Thierry Henry. He was a regular starter as Madrid won 2016–17 La Liga and the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League. He signed another contract extension until 2021.

Karim played his 100th Champions League match and his 400th game for Real Madrid. He scored important goals in the Champions League semi-finals against Bayern Munich. In the 2018 UEFA Champions League final, he scored the first goal in a 3–1 win over Liverpool, helping Madrid win their third consecutive Champions League title.

After Cristiano Ronaldo left in 2018, Karim became the main goal scorer for Real Madrid. He scored 30 goals in the 2018–19 season. He reached his 200th goal for the club and became only the seventh Madrid player to do so. He also became the second player to score in 15 consecutive Champions League seasons.

In February 2020, he extended his contract until 2022. He played his 500th game for Real Madrid, becoming the 14th player to reach this milestone. Real Madrid won the 2019–20 La Liga title, and Karim scored over 20 goals. He finished as the club's top scorer for the second season in a row with 27 goals.

Captain, Goal Scorer, and Ballon d'Or Winner

For the 2021–22 season, Karim became Real Madrid's vice-captain. He started the season strong, scoring two goals against Alaves. He signed another contract extension until 2023.

He scored his first hat-trick in three seasons against Celta Vigo. He became the first Madrid captain to score a hat-trick since Raúl in 2008. He also became only the fourth Madrid player to score 200 La Liga goals. Karim became the first player to score in 17 consecutive Champions League seasons.

In October 2021, he scored Real Madrid's 1000th Champions League goal. He also became the highest French goalscorer in club football, passing Thierry Henry. In January 2022, he scored his 300th goal for Madrid.

In March 2022, he scored a hat-trick in just 17 minutes against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. This made him the oldest player to score a Champions League hat-trick. He passed Alfredo Di Stéfano to become Real Madrid's third-highest all-time goalscorer. He scored another hat-trick against Chelsea in the quarter-finals.

Karim helped Real Madrid win their 35th Spanish title in April 2022. He also scored a decisive penalty against Manchester City to help Real Madrid reach the Champions League final. He won his first Pichichi Trophy as La Liga's top scorer with 27 goals. He won his fifth Champions League title and was named the Champions League Player of the Season. In October 2022, Karim was awarded the prestigious Ballon d'Or.

For the 2022–23 season, Karim became the full captain of Real Madrid. He scored in the 2022 UEFA Super Cup, passing Raúl to become Real Madrid's second-highest all-time goalscorer. He scored another hat-trick in just 6 minutes and 30 seconds against Real Valladolid. Just three days later, he scored another hat-trick against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-finals. He helped the team win the 2023 Copa del Rey final, matching Marcelo's record of 25 trophies with the club.

On 4 June 2023, Real Madrid announced that Karim would be leaving the club. He received a wonderful farewell from the fans in his last game.

Life After Real Madrid: Al-Ittihad

Starting Strong in Saudi Arabia

On 6 June 2023, Karim Benzema joined Saudi Professional League club Al-Ittihad on a free transfer. He signed a very good contract with the club. Two days later, Al-Ittihad officially introduced him to many excited fans at the King Abdullah Sports City.

Karim scored a goal and provided an assist in his first game for Al-Ittihad in July 2023. In August 2023, he was made the club captain. In his first season, Al-Ittihad finished fifth in the league, with Karim scoring 13 goals and making 8 assists in 29 matches.

Winning Titles with Al-Ittihad

For the 2024–25 season, Karim led Al-Ittihad to win the league title on 15 May. He scored 21 goals in 28 games and helped create 30 goals in total. The team earned 77 points to become champions. Karim also captained Al-Ittihad to win the Saudi King's Cup Final, completing a domestic double. He was also named the league's Player of the Season.

On 30 August 2025, Karim scored a hat-trick in a 5–2 win, which meant he had scored over 500 goals in his career!

Playing for France

Youth Teams and Early Success

Karim played for various French youth national teams. He was part of a talented group of players known as the Génération 1987. He joined the under-17 team for the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and scored in his first game. France went on to win the tournament.

He was a regular player for the under-18 team, scoring many goals and helping them win a tournament in the Czech Republic. He also helped the under-18 team win the Meridian Cup, scoring five goals. He finished his under-18 career with 14 goals in 18 games.

Karim also played for the under-19 team and the under-21 team. Before playing for the senior French team, he was asked to play for Algeria, his parents' home country. But Karim chose to play for France, saying it was in his heart to play for them.

Senior Team Debut and Challenges

Karim was first called up to the senior French national team in November 2006. He made his international debut on 28 March 2007 against Austria, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 win. He scored two more goals against the Faroe Islands later that year.

He was part of the squad for UEFA Euro 2008. He played in some matches, but France was eliminated early.

For the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Karim was not selected for the squad. The coach said it was due to his form with Real Madrid at the time. Karim said he was disappointed but would still support the team.

He returned to the national team under new coach Laurent Blanc after the World Cup. Karim became a key player in the attack, scoring three goals in qualifying for UEFA Euro 2012. He also scored against England and Brazil in friendly matches. At Euro 2012, he helped set up two goals in a win against Ukraine.

Return and International Triumphs

In October 2013, Karim scored his first goal for France in over a year, ending a long scoring drought. He scored in a 6–0 win against Australia. He also scored important goals in the 2014 World Cup play-off against Ukraine, helping France qualify for the tournament.

At the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Karim made his debut in the tournament. He scored two goals in a 3–0 win against Honduras and was named man of the match. He scored again in a 5–2 win over Switzerland. France reached the quarter-finals but lost to Germany.

After October 2015, Karim was not selected for the French national team for over five years due to issues outside of football. He missed Euro 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

In May 2021, Karim was officially called back to the French squad for UEFA Euro 2020. It was his first call-up in more than five years! He scored two goals against Portugal and two more against Switzerland in the tournament. He won the Euro 2020 Bronze Boot for his four goals.

In October 2021, Karim scored a goal in the Nations League semi-final against Belgium, helping France win 3–2. In the final, he scored a crucial goal as France beat Spain 2–1 to win the title for the first time. He was named "Player of the Match" in the final. This was Karim's first trophy with the senior French team.

He scored two goals against Kazakhstan in November 2021, helping France qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He was included in France's squad for the 2022 World Cup, but an injury meant he could not play. However, he still received a silver medal as France finished as runners-up. In December 2022, Karim announced his retirement from international football.

How Benzema Plays

Benzema in an Adidas music video (above) and a commercial (below) for Real Madrid in 2019 and 2018, respectively

Karim Benzema is known as one of the best strikers ever. He is creative, skillful, quick, and agile. He is also good at heading the ball. He can score with either foot, even though he is naturally right-footed. His Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti, called him "the best striker in the world."

He often plays as a centre forward, but he can also play on the wing or as a playmaker behind the main striker. Karim is great at dropping back to link up with midfielders or holding the ball to create chances for his teammates. This is why some people call him a "nine and a half." He is Real Madrid's second-highest goalscorer and top assist provider.

Karim is also praised for his hard work and smart movement without the ball. He often draws defenders away, creating space for his teammates, like Cristiano Ronaldo when they played together. After Ronaldo left, Karim became the main goal scorer, taking more shots and scoring many different types of goals. He still continued to create chances for others.

Off the Field

Karim Benzema was born in Lyon, France. His family has Algerian roots. His grandfather moved to Lyon from Algeria in the 1950s. Karim grew up with eight siblings in Bron, a suburb of Lyon. His younger brothers, Gressy and Sabri, also play football.

Karim has a daughter named Mélia and a son named Ibrahim. He is a practicing Muslim and observes fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. He has said that his faith helps him stay focused and gives him strength.

Karim has been dating American model Jordan Ozuna since 2022. They have a child together. In 2023, Jordan converted to Islam.

Karim has been part of many advertising campaigns. He was an ambassador for the FIFA video game series. He has also worked with companies like Hyundai, SFR, LCL, bwin, and Adidas. In 2017, a documentary film about him called Le K Benzema was released. He also started his own YouTube channel in 2020, sharing videos about his daily life and answering fan questions. In 2022, he became an ambassador for the Fendi Faster sneaker line.

Career Numbers

Club Statistics

International Statistics

International Goals

Scores and results list France's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Benzema goal

List of international goals scored by Karim Benzema

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	28 March 2007	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	1	Austria	1–0	1–0	Friendly
2	13 October 2007	Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands	5	Faroe Islands	3–0	6–0	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
3					5–0
4	20 August 2008	Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden	14	Sweden	1–1	3–2	Friendly
5	14 October 2008	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	18	Tunisia	3–1	3–1
6	5 June 2009	Stade de Gerland, Lyon, France	24	Turkey	1–0	1–0
7	10 October 2009	Stade de Roudourou, Guingamp, France	26	Faroe Islands	5–0	5–0	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
8	14 October 2009	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	27	Austria	1–0	3–1
9	7 September 2010	Koševo City Stadium, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina	29	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
10	12 October 2010	Stade Saint-Symphorien, Metz, France	31	Luxembourg	1–0	2–0
11	17 November 2010	Wembley Stadium, London, England	32	England	1–0	2–1	Friendly
12	9 February 2011	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	33	Brazil	1–0	1–0
13	2 September 2011	Stadiumi Qemal Stafa, Tirana, Albania	39	Albania	1–0	2–1	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
14	5 June 2012	MMArena, Le Mans, France	45	Estonia	2–0	4–0	Friendly
15					3–0
16	11 October 2013	Parc des Princes, Paris, France	61	Australia	6–0	6–0
17	15 October 2013	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	62	Finland	3–0	3–0	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
18	19 November 2013		64	Ukraine	2–0	3–0
19	5 March 2014		65	Netherlands	1–0	2–0	Friendly
20	8 June 2014	Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France	66	Jamaica	3–0	8–0
21					5–0
22	15 June 2014	Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, Brazil	67	Honduras	1–0	3–0	2014 FIFA World Cup
23					3–0
24	20 June 2014	Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil	68	Switzerland	4–0	5–2
25	11 October 2014	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	74	Portugal	1–0	2–1	Friendly
26	8 October 2015	Allianz Riviera, Nice, France	81	Armenia	3–0	4–0
27					4–0
28	23 June 2021	Puskás Aréna, Budapest, Hungary	86	Portugal	1–1	2–2	UEFA Euro 2020
29					2–1
30	28 June 2021	Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania	87	Switzerland	1–1	3–3 (aet)
31					2–1
32	7 October 2021	Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy	91	Belgium	1–2	3–2	2021 UEFA Nations League Finals
33	10 October 2021	San Siro, Milan, Italy	92	Spain	1–1	2–1	2021 UEFA Nations League final
34	13 November 2021	Parc des Princes, Paris, France	93	Kazakhstan	4–0	8–0	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
35					5–0
36	16 November 2021	Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland	94	Finland	1–0	2–0
37	3 June 2022	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	95	Denmark	1–0	1–2	2022–23 UEFA Nations League A

Trophies and Awards

Team Honours

Lyon

• Ligue 1: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08
• Coupe de France: 2007–08
• Trophée des Champions: 2006, 2007

Real Madrid

• La Liga: 2011–12, 2016–17, 2019–20, 2021–22
• Copa del Rey: 2010–11, 2013–14, 2022–23
• Supercopa de España: 2012, 2017, 2020, 2022
• UEFA Champions League: 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2021–22
• UEFA Super Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022

Al-Ittihad

• Saudi Pro League: 2024–25
• King's Cup: 2024–25

France U17

• UEFA European Under-17 Championship: 2004

France

• UEFA Nations League: 2020–21
• FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2022

Individual Achievements

• Ballon d'Or: 2022
• Marca Leyenda Award: 2023
• UEFA Men's Player of the Year: 2021–22
• Golden Player Man Award: 2022
• Onze d'Or: 2020–21, 2021–22
• French Player of the Year: 2011, 2012, 2014, 2021
• UEFA Champions League Player of the Season: 2021–22
• UEFA Champions League top goalscorer: 2021–22
• FIFA FIFPRO World 11: 2022
• 2023 FIFA Club World Cup: Joint top scorer
• La Liga Player of the Season: 2019–20, 2021–22
• La Liga Best Player (voted by Marca fans): 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22
• Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano: 2019–20, 2021–22
• Pichichi Trophy: 2021–22
• UEFA Champions League top assist provider: 2011–12
• UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2020–21
• UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2021–22
• IFFHS Men's World Team: 2022
• Globe Soccer Best Player of the Year: 2022
• La Liga Team of the Season: 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23
• UEFA La Liga Team of the Season: 2019–20
• Bravo Award: 2008
• Ligue 1 top scorer: 2007–08
• Coupe de France top scorer: 2007–08
• UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month: January 2008, April 2008
• UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year: 2007–08
• UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2007–08
• UNFP Best French Player Playing Abroad: 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
• Golden Lion for the best Lyon sportsman: 2007, 2008
• French Rookie of the Year: 2006
• Étoile d'Or: 2007–08
• La Liga Player of the Month: October 2014, June 2020, March 2021, September 2021, April 2022
• Supercopa de España top scorer: 2021–22, 2022–23
• Real Madrid Player of the Season (voted by supporters): 2015–16, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22
• AS Player of the Year: 2021
• Kicker Player of the Season: 2022
• Madrid Sports Press Association Award (APDM)
• ESM Team of the Year: 2020–21, 2021–22
• L'Équipe's Team of the Year: 2020, 2021, 2022
• Saudi Pro League Player of the Season: 2024–25
• 2005 UEFA–CAF Meridian Cup top scorer
• UEFA European Championship Bronze Boot: 2020
• UEFA Nations League Finals Bronze Boot: 2021
• UEFA Nations League Finals Goal of the Tournament: 2021

Special Records

• Member of Guinness World Records 2021: Player with the most consecutive seasons in the UEFA Champions League (qualified for and played in the competition without interruption since 2005)

Images for kids

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  Benzema during a training session with Lyon in 2008

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  Benzema playing against Marseille in a Champions League match in 2009

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  Benzema celebrating a goal against Espanyol in 2010

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  Benzema playing in a league match against Almería in 2011

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  Benzema training ahead of a Champions League match in 2012

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  Benzema playing for Real Madrid in 2015

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  Benzema with Cristina Cifuentes during the 2016 Champions League title celebrations in Madrid

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  Benzema getting interviewed after Real Madrid's first away game after the COVID-19 quarantine against Real Sociedad

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  Left to right: Marcelo, Benzema and Carlos Osoro Sierra with the UEFA Champions League trophy in 2022 at the Virgin of Almudena

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  Benzema during a training with Al-Ittihad in August 2025

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  Benzema playing for France in 2008

• 

  Benzema playing for France at UEFA Euro 2012

See also

In Spanish: Karim Benzema para niños

• List of footballers with 100 or more UEFA Champions League appearances