17 fun facts about Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema is a French professional football player who currently plays as a striker for Real Madrid. He was born on December 19, 1987, in Lyon, France, and began his football career at a young age. Benzema is of Algerian descent and his parents are both initially from Algeria.

Benzema began his professional career with Lyon, where he quickly established himself as one of the most promising young talents in French football. He helped Lyon win the Ligue 1 title four times in a row (2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08), and was named the Ligue 1 Player of the Year in 2008. In 2009, Benzema moved to Real Madrid in a deal worth around €35 million, where he has since become one of the most successful and iconic players in the club's history.

Throughout his career, Benzema has been known for his impressive goal-scoring abilities, technical skills, ability to drop deeper and link with midfielders, and physicality. He is an excellent dribbler and is capable of creating scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.

Benzema has won numerous domestic and international titles with Real Madrid, including five UEFA Champions League titles and four La Liga titles. He is currently the second-highest goal scorer in the history of Real Madrid, with 342 goals, only behind Cristiano Ronaldo.

In addition to his success at the club level, Benzema had also been a key player for the French national team. He has represented France at several major international tournaments, including the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2008 and 2021 UEFA Euros, and has scored 37 goals for his country. He announced his retirement from the national team following the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Off the pitch, Benzema is known for his reserved and quiet personality. He rarely speaks to the media and prefers to keep his private life out of the public eye. Benzema is a devout Muslim and observes Ramadan, and he has been involved in several charitable causes over the years, including children's education and cancer research.

Benzema has also faced controversy throughout his career. In 2015, he was involved in a blackmail scandal that led to his exclusion from the French national team for several years. However, he was eventually reinstated to the team in 2021. Overall, Benzema is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of his generation, and a true icon of the sport.