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Karim Benzema

Benzema with Real Madrid in 2021
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
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	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	34	(21)
National team
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)
Honours Men's football Representing  France FIFA World Cup Runner-up 2022 Qatar UEFA Nations League Winner 2021 Italy UEFA European Under-17 Championship Winner 2004 France
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:04, 22 January 2025 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals).

Karim Mostafa Benzema (born 19 December 1987) is a French professional footballer. He plays as a striker and is the captain for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad. Many people think he is one of the best players of his time. He is also considered one of the greatest strikers ever.

Benzema is known for his amazing skills, great vision, and how he can play in different positions. He is Real Madrid's second-highest goalscorer of all time. He also has the most assists for the club. With Real Madrid, he won 25 trophies. These include four La Liga titles and five UEFA Champions League titles. He has scored more than 400 goals in his career for both his clubs and his country.

Karim was born in Lyon, France. His parents are from Algeria. He started his career at his hometown club Lyon in 2005. He helped them win three Ligue 1 titles. In 2008, he was named the league's best player. He was also the top goalscorer that year. In 2009, Benzema moved to Real Madrid for €35 million. This was a record transfer fee for a French player at the time.

At first, he found it hard to settle in Spain. But he soon started scoring many goals. He was part of a famous attacking trio with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. They were called "BBC". This trio helped Real Madrid win four Champions League titles between 2014 and 2018.

After Ronaldo left in 2018, Benzema became the main striker. He was chosen for the La Liga Team of the Season for five years in a row. He won the Pichichi Trophy (top scorer award) in 2022. He also became the top scorer in the Champions League in 2022. He won his fifth Champions League title that year. He was the captain in his last season before joining Al-Ittihad.

Benzema played for the French national team. He won the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Championship with the youth team. He first played for the senior team in 2007 when he was 19. He was left out of the 2010 FIFA World Cup squad. He returned for Euro 2012 and the 2014 World Cup. He then didn't play for France for over five years due to off-field issues. He came back for Euro 2020 and won the Bronze Boot. He was also part of the French team that came second in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, he couldn't play due to an injury. He retired from international football in December 2022. He played 97 games for France and scored 37 goals. This makes him France's sixth-highest goalscorer ever. He was named French Player of the Year four times.

For his amazing performances in 2021 and 2022, Benzema won the UEFA Player of the Year award. He also won the Ballon d'Or, which is a huge award for the best player in the world. He was the fifth French player to win it. He is one of the highest-paid footballers in the world.

Club Career

Early Years

Benzema started playing football at age eight. He joined his local club, Bron Terraillon SC. His friends called him Coco. He scored two goals against the Lyon youth academy. This made the big club in the city notice him.

Lyon officials wanted to sign him. At first, his club president refused. But after talking with Benzema's father, he was allowed to try out for Lyon. He officially joined Lyon's academy after his trial.

Lyon

Benzema quickly moved up through Lyon's youth teams. He was a ballboy for senior team matches. He also did well in school. At age 16, he scored 38 goals in the French youth league.

Before the 2004–05 season, Benzema joined the club's reserve team. They played in the fourth division of French football. He scored ten goals for the reserve team.

Breakthrough and First Titles (2004–2007)

Benzema was called up to the senior team in January 2005. He had to speak to his new teammates. These included famous players like Michael Essien and Sylvain Wiltord. He famously told them, "Do not laugh, I'm here to take your place."

He played his first professional game on 15 January 2005 against Metz. He came on as a substitute and helped set up a goal. Lyon won the game 2–0. He signed his first professional contract that same month. Lyon won their fourth league title that season.

In the 2005–06 season, Benzema didn't play much at first. This was because of other strong players. He made his UEFA Champions League debut on 6 December. He scored his first professional goal in a 2–1 win against Rosenborg. A month later, he scored two goals in a Coupe de France match. On 4 March 2006, he scored his first league goal.

He started getting more playing time in the 2006–07 season. He scored in the first league match of the season. He also scored two goals against Nice later that month. He scored in the Champions League too. In November, he got a thigh injury. This made him miss three months of games. Lyon won their sixth league title in a row that season.

Becoming a Star (2007–2009)

For the 2007–08 season, Benzema became the main striker. He wore the number 10 shirt. He had a great season, scoring 31 goals in 51 games. He was the top scorer in the league with 20 goals. He also scored in the Champions League and French Cup. Lyon won their first ever league and cup "double" that year.

Some of his best moments included scoring three goals in one game against Metz. He also scored a last-minute goal from a free kick against rivals Saint-Étienne. In the Champions League, he scored twice against Rangers. This helped Lyon move to the next round.

On 13 March 2008, Benzema signed a new contract with Lyon. He became one of the highest-paid players in France. For his amazing season, he was named the Ligue 1 Player of the Year. He also won the Bravo Award for the best young player in Europe.

He started the 2008–09 season well. He scored two goals in the first league match. He kept scoring in the next few weeks. Lyon's president said Benzema was worth €100 million. This was to stop other clubs from trying to buy him.

He scored his seventh league goal on 29 October. He also scored five goals in the Champions League group stage. After the winter break, Benzema had a tough time scoring. Lyon's form also dropped. They lost their chance to win a record eighth league title. Benzema was part of four of Lyon's league title wins.

Despite losing the title, Benzema scored his 15th and 16th goals of the season in May. He finished the season as one of the top scorers in Ligue 1.

Real Madrid

Joining Real Madrid (2009–10)

On 1 July 2009, Lyon announced that Benzema was moving to Real Madrid. The transfer cost €35 million. On 9 July, he passed his medical and signed a six-year contract. He was officially presented to fans at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

Benzema played his first game for Real Madrid on 20 July. It was a friendly match against Shamrock Rovers. He scored the only goal in their 1–0 win. He scored five goals in pre-season games.

He made his league debut on 29 August 2009. A month later, he scored his first goal for the club. He scored two goals in a 3–0 win against Tenerife. He also played his first Champions League game for Real Madrid.

In late November, Benzema started playing less. The manager preferred Gonzalo Higuaín. Spanish media also criticized Benzema for not performing well. They said he was struggling to settle in Spain. His friend Zinedine Zidane defended him. Zidane said Benzema was talented and would succeed.

On 5 December, Benzema scored in a 6–0 win. He told the media he was happy and learning Spanish. When Higuaín got injured in January 2010, Benzema returned to the starting team. He scored two goals in a 3–1 win. When Higuaín returned, Benzema went back to being a substitute. He finished the season with eight goals.

Becoming a Key Player (2010–11)

Before the 2010–11 season, Benzema changed his shirt number to 9. José Mourinho became the new manager. Mourinho challenged Benzema to work harder. France coach Laurent Blanc also said Benzema needed to lose weight.

Benzema started the season as a substitute. He scored his first goal of the season on 21 September. He then didn't score a league goal for almost two months.

In late November, Higuaín got injured again. Benzema became a regular starter. He scored his first Champions League goal of the season against Ajax. In Madrid's last group game, Benzema scored his first hat trick for the club. He scored three goals in a 4–0 win. Two weeks later, he scored another hat trick in the Copa del Rey.

In January, Benzema scored in back-to-back matches for the first time. He scored the only goal in a 1–0 win against Mallorca. Three days later, he scored the only goal in a Copa del Rey semi-final win. Real Madrid reached the final.

He scored ten goals in eight matches in February and March. This included two goals in three straight games. He scored his 100th professional goal against his old club Lyon. He did not celebrate out of respect for them.

On 19 March, he scored in the El Derbi madrileño (Madrid Derby). Real Madrid won 2–1. He finished the season with 26 goals. Real Madrid won the Copa del Rey, which was Benzema's first trophy with the club. Mourinho and other club officials praised his performance.

Winning La Liga (2011–12)

Before the 2011–12 season, Benzema worked hard to lose weight. He lost 8 kg (18 lbs). He was amazing in pre-season, scoring eight goals in seven games. Mourinho made him the main striker for the new season.

In the 2011 Supercopa de España against Barcelona, Benzema scored an equalizing goal. But Barcelona still won the trophy. In the second league match, he scored two goals. He also scored in the Champions League against Ajax and Lyon.

In November 2011, Benzema scored five goals. On 10 December, he scored the fastest goal ever in an El Clásico match against Barcelona. He scored after just 21 seconds. Three days later, he was named the France Football French Player of the Year. He was the second French player in Spain to win this award.

In 2012, Benzema continued to score. He scored against Granada and Málaga. He also scored against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey. On 12 February, he scored his first league goal in over a month. A week later, he scored two goals. On 24 March, he scored two goals against Real Sociedad. This made him the top French scorer in La Liga history.

He scored two more goals in the Champions League quarter-finals. On 29 April, he scored two goals and assisted another. This helped Madrid get closer to their first league title in four years. Real Madrid won their 32nd league title the next week.

European Success (2012–2016)

In the Champions League, Benzema scored an equalizer against Manchester City. On 4 October 2012, he scored a bicycle kick goal against Ajax. On 18 December, he won the award for best French footballer for the second year in a row.

On 2 March 2013, Benzema scored against Barcelona in a league game. Real Madrid won 2–1.

Before the 2013–14 season, Benzema became part of the "BBC" trio. This was with Cristiano Ronaldo and new signing Gareth Bale. Benzema started the season by scoring. On 18 January 2014, he scored his 100th goal for Real Madrid. On 23 March, he scored two goals against Barcelona.

Benzema played in the 2014 Copa del Rey Final. He assisted the first goal. Real Madrid won the final 2–1. A week later, he scored the only goal in a Champions League semi-final. Real Madrid went on to win the Champions League final in May. The "BBC" trio scored 97 goals that season.

On 6 August 2014, Benzema signed a new contract until 2019. He helped Real Madrid win the 2014 UEFA Super Cup. On 16 September, he scored Real Madrid's 1,000th goal in European competitions. He scored the winning goal against Ludogorets Razgrad in the Champions League. He also scored two goals in a 5–0 win against Athletic Bilbao. In 2014, he won the French Player of the Year award for the third time.

He was named La Liga Player of the Month for October 2014. On 8 December 2015, he scored three goals (a hat trick) against Malmö FF. On 20 December, he scored another hat trick in a 10–2 win. He was a regular starter when the team won the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League.

Three Champions League Wins in a Row (2016–2018)

In December 2016, Benzema played in the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup. He scored in the semi-final and the final. Real Madrid won the title. This was his tenth trophy with the club.

On 15 February 2017, he scored his 51st Champions League goal. This put him ahead of Thierry Henry in all-time top scorers. He was named Man of the Match. He scored 11 goals that season. Real Madrid won the 2016–17 La Liga and the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League.

On 20 September 2017, Benzema extended his contract until 2021. On 6 March 2018, he played his 100th Champions League game. On 31 March, he played his 400th game for Real Madrid. He was captain and scored a penalty. On 1 May, he scored twice against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final. Real Madrid reached the final. On 26 May, Benzema scored the first goal in the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final. Real Madrid won their third Champions League title in a row. This was their 13th overall.

Becoming the Main Striker (2018–2021)

When Cristiano Ronaldo left in July 2018, Benzema became Real Madrid's main goal scorer. He scored 30 goals in the 2018–19 season. He was the club's top scorer.

On 7 November 2018, Benzema scored two goals. He reached 200 goals for the club. He was only the seventh Madrid player to do this. He scored three goals in the Champions League group stage. On 13 February, he scored his 60th Champions League goal.

Benzema scored Real Madrid's first goal of the 2019–20 season. On 6 November, he scored two goals against Galatasaray. He became the second player to score in 15 straight Champions League seasons. He also became the third Madrid player to score 50 goals in the competition. Manager Zinedine Zidane praised him. Three days later, he scored two more goals in the league. He passed Ferenc Puskás as the club's sixth all-time top scorer in La Liga. In February 2020, he extended his contract until 2022. On 1 March, he played his 500th game for Real Madrid. Real Madrid won the 2019–20 La Liga title that season. Benzema scored over 20 goals.

When La Liga restarted after the COVID-19 break, Benzema scored two goals against Valencia. He passed Ferenc Puskás as Real Madrid's fourth All-Time Top Scorer with 304 goals.

On 16 July, Benzema's two goals helped Real Madrid win their 34th La Liga title. He finished the season as the club's top scorer with 27 goals.

Benzema scored his 250th goal for Real Madrid on 4 October 2020. On 27 October, he scored an amazing overhead goal in the Champions League. He became the second player to score in 16 straight Champions League seasons. On 9 December, he scored two goals to help Real Madrid reach the Champions League knockout stages. On 21 April, he scored two goals and assisted another. This meant he had scored against all 35 teams he played against in La Liga.

Vice-Captain and Ballon d'Or Winner (2021–22)

After Sergio Ramos left, Benzema became Real Madrid's vice-captain. On 14 August, he scored two goals in the first league game of the season. Six days later, he signed a contract extension until 2023.

Benzema scored his first hat-trick in three seasons on 12 September. He was the first Madrid captain to score a hat-trick since Raúl in 2008. On 22 September, he scored two goals and assisted two more. This made him the fourth Madrid player to score 200 La Liga goals. On 28 September, he became the first player to score in 17 straight Champions League seasons.

On 22 October, Benzema scored Real Madrid's 1000th Champions League goal. He also became their fourth highest all-time top scorer. On 28 November, he became the highest French goalscorer in club football. On 8 January, he scored his 300th goal for Real Madrid.

On 9 March, he scored a hat-trick in 17 minutes against Paris Saint-Germain. This was a huge comeback win. At 34, he became the oldest player to score a Champions League hat-trick. He passed Alfredo Di Stéfano as Real Madrid's third-highest all-time goalscorer. On 14 March, he scored two goals and broke Henry's record again. He became the all-time top French goalscorer with 413 goals. On 6 April, he scored another hat-trick against Chelsea in the Champions League. He was the second player to score back-to-back hat-tricks in Champions League knockout games. A week later, he scored a crucial goal in extra time against Chelsea.

On 30 April 2022, he helped Real Madrid win their 35th Spanish title. On 4 May, he scored a decisive penalty in extra time against Manchester City. This sent Real Madrid to their 17th European Cup final. Benzema won his first Pichichi Trophy as the top scorer in La Liga. On 28 May, he won his fifth Champions League title. He was the top scorer in the tournament with 15 goals. On 31 May, he was named the Champions League player of the season. On 17 October, Benzema was awarded the Ballon d'Or.

Captain and Departure (2022–23)

After Marcelo left, Benzema became the captain. By scoring in the 2022 UEFA Super Cup, he passed Raúl. He became Real Madrid's all-time second-highest goalscorer.

On 2 April 2023, Benzema scored a hat-trick in just 6 minutes and 30 seconds. This was one of the fastest hat-tricks in his club's history. Three days later, he scored another hat-trick against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-finals. He was the second Real Madrid player to score a hat-trick at the Camp Nou. On 6 May, he helped the team win the Copa del Rey final.

On 4 June, Real Madrid announced that Benzema would leave the club. He received a huge welcome from fans in his last game. He scored in that game against Athletic Bilbao.

Al-Ittihad

On 6 June 2023, Saudi Professional League club Al-Ittihad signed Benzema. He joined them for free. His contract allows him to earn up to $100 million USD a year until 2026. Two days later, Al-Ittihad officially presented him to many fans.

He scored a goal and assisted another in his first game on 27 July. In August 2023, Benzema became the club captain for Al-Ittihad. In his first season, Al-Ittihad finished fifth in the league. Benzema scored 13 goals and had 8 assists. This led to changes in the club's management. He was later reunited with his former French manager, Laurent Blanc. Benzema scored 12 goals in 12 games by January 2025. His club was leading the league.

International Career

Youth Teams

Benzema played for all levels of the French youth teams. He was part of a special group of players born in 1987. This group included Hatem Ben Arfa, Jérémy Ménez, and Samir Nasri. Benzema joined the team for the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. He scored in his first game against Northern Ireland. France won the tournament.

He was a regular player for the under-18 team. He scored his first goal at this level against Poland. He also scored in the final against the Czech Republic. In 2005, he played in the 2005 UEFA–CAF Meridian Cup. He scored five goals and France won the tournament. He finished his under-18 career with 14 goals. His coach praised him for being "quite efficient".

Benzema also played for the under-19 team. He scored one goal in a friendly against Norway. He scored two goals in a qualification game against Bulgaria. France was eliminated from the tournament despite being undefeated.

He made his under-21 debut in 2006. He played in qualification matches for the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He played his last game for the under-21 team in 2009. He finished with five appearances and no goals. Before playing for France's senior team, Algeria wanted him to play for them. But Benzema said he would only play for France. He said, "Algeria is my parents' country and it is in my heart, but football-wise, I will only play for the French national team".

Senior Team

Euro 2008

Benzema was first called up to the senior national team in November 2006. He had to withdraw due to an injury. He returned in March 2007. He made his international debut on 28 March 2007 against Austria. He came on as a substitute and scored the only goal. On 13 October, he scored two goals against the Faroe Islands. He was chosen for the squad to play in UEFA Euro 2008.

Benzema played his first game in the competition on 9 June 2008. It was against Romania. He was substituted in the second half. The game ended 0–0. French media criticized his performance. He did not play in the next game. He returned for the final group game against Italy. France lost 2–0 and was eliminated.

Missing the 2010 World Cup

Benzema remained a regular player after Euro 2008. He switched to the number 10 shirt. He scored a goal in a friendly win against Sweden. Two months later, he scored against Tunisia. On 5 June 2009, he scored the only goal in a win against Turkey. He scored his first World Cup qualification goals in October 2009.

However, he was not chosen for France's squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He said he would be "very disappointed, but not killed". He also said he would "support the France team no matter what".

Euro 2012

After the World Cup, Benzema returned to the national team. Laurent Blanc became the new coach. Blanc wanted to build the team's attack around Benzema. Benzema scored three goals in qualifying for UEFA Euro 2012. He scored against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Luxembourg, and Albania. On 17 November 2010, he scored against England at Wembley Stadium. In February 2011, he scored the only goal against Brazil.

On 29 May 2012, Benzema was named to the Euro 2012 squad. On 5 June, he scored two goals in a warm-up friendly. At Euro 2012, he started the first game against England. He assisted both goals in a 2–0 win against Ukraine.

2014 World Cup

On 11 October 2013, Benzema scored his first goal for France since June 2012. This ended a long scoring drought. He scored in a 6–0 win against Australia. In a play-off match against Ukraine on 19 November 2013, Benzema scored France's second goal. France won 3–0 and qualified for the 2014 World Cup.

On 6 June 2014, Benzema was named in France's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In the first game, a 3–0 win against Honduras, he scored two goals. He was named man of the match. In the second group game, he scored again in a 5–2 win against Switzerland. France reached the knockout stage. France was later knocked out by Germany in the quarter-finals.

Exclusion (2016–2020)

Benzema last played for France on 8 October 2015. On 13 April 2016, the French Football Federation announced he would not be picked for UEFA Euro 2016. This was due to off-field issues. He was also left off the roster for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Benzema expressed his frustration about being left out.

In November 2019, Benzema said he would play for another country if France didn't want him.

Return and Retirement (2021–2022)

On 18 May 2021, Benzema was officially included in France's squad for UEFA Euro 2020. This was his first call-up in over five years. He played his first game back on 2 June. On 23 June 2021, he scored two goals against Portugal. He scored two more goals against Switzerland. France was knocked out on penalties. Benzema won the Euro 2020 bronze boot with four goals.

In the 2021 UEFA Nations League Finals semi-final, Benzema scored France's first goal. France won 3–2 against Belgium. He passed Zidane in France's scoring records. In the final, he scored an equalizing goal. France won the title for the first time. He was named "Player of the Match" in the final. The Nations League was Benzema's first trophy with France's senior team.

On 13 November 2021, Benzema scored two goals in a World Cup qualifier. France won 8–0 and qualified for Qatar 2022. He passed David Trezeguet to become France's fifth all-time top scorer. Although he was in the squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he missed the tournament due to a thigh injury. He still received a silver medal. On 19 December, Benzema announced his retirement from the national team.

Style of Play

Benzema is known for his great finishing and playmaking. He is considered one of the best forwards of his time. He is creative, skillful, quick, and strong. He can score with either foot or his head. His Real Madrid manager called him "the best striker in the world" in 2021.

He usually plays as a centre forward. But he can also play on the wing or as a playmaker. He is good at dropping deeper to link up with midfielders. He can also hold the ball and create assists for teammates. This is because of his vision and passing skills. Some people call him a "nine and a half" because he does both.

Benzema also works hard without the ball. He moves smartly to create space for his teammates. He had a strong partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo. Benzema's movement helped Ronaldo make attacking runs. After Ronaldo left, Benzema became the main striker. He started taking more shots and scoring more goals. He still created chances for his teammates too.

Personal Life

Benzema was born in Lyon, France. His family is of Algerian descent. His grandfather moved to Lyon in the 1950s. Benzema's father was born in Algeria, and his mother was born in Lyon. Karim grew up with eight brothers and sisters. His younger brothers, Gressy and Sabri, also play football.

Benzema is a practicing Muslim. He observes fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. He has said his faith helps him stay focused. In October 2023, he showed support for victims of conflict in Gaza.

Benzema has been dating American model Jordan Ozuna since 2022. She is the mother of his fourth child. In 2023, Ozuna converted to Islam.

Benzema has been in many advertisements. He was an ambassador for the FIFA video game series. He has signed deals with companies like Hyundai and Adidas. In 2017, a documentary film about him was released. In 2020, Benzema started his own YouTube channel. He shares videos of his daily life and answers fan questions. In 2022, he became an ambassador for the Fendi Faster sneaker line.

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

France U17

• UEFA European Under-17 Championship: 2004

France

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

Individual

• 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 Awards Men's 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
• 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
• 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)

See also

In Spanish: Karim Benzema para niños

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