# Cristian Benavente

Cristian Benavente Bristol (born 19 May 1994) is a Peruvian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Liga I club Gloria Buzău. Born in Spain, he played for the Peru national team.

## Club career
### Real Madrid

Born in Alcalá de Henares, to Peruvian parents of Quechua descent. Benavente joined Real Madrid's youth system in 2002, aged 8. In the 2013 summer, while still a junior, he was named to Real Madrid Castilla's pre-season squad for the 2012–13 season. In the same campaign he also was Juvenil A topscorer, netting 18 goals.
In July 2013, Benavente was promoted to Castilla, and made his professional debut on 24 August, playing the last 11 minutes of a 0–1 home loss against AD Alcorcón, in the Segunda División championship.

### Milton Keynes Dons

On 17 July 2015, Benavente joined English Championship club Milton Keynes Dons, signing a two-year deal on a free transfer. On 11 August 2015, Benavente made his debut in a 2–1 League Cup first round win over Leyton Orient. On 5 January 2016, following limited first team opportunities, Benavente was released from the club.

### Charleroi

Benavente then signed for Belgian club Charleroi in 2016.

### Pyramids

In January 2019, he moved to Egyptian club Pyramids FC.

### Nantes

In August 2019, he was loaned to French club FC Nantes

### Royal Antwerp

In October 2020, he was loaned out to Belgian side Royal Antwerp On 31 January 2021, Benavente left Royal Antwerp, due to a lack of playing time.

### Charleroi

On 1 February 2021, Benavente moved to Belgium club Charleroi, on a loan deal with an option to buy.

### Alianza Lima

In February 2022, Benavente was signed for Peruvian club Alianza Lima. He scored in his debut.

## International career

After appearing with the under-17 and under-20 teams, Benavente made his full squad debut on 18 April 2013, as a half-time substitute in a 0–0 friendly draw against Mexico at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. He scored his first international goal on 1 June 2013, the winner in a 2–1 victory over Panama.

## Personal life

His mother, Magali Bristol, was a retired volleyball player for Peru's U15 and U20 teams, and is a part owner of Zest nightclub in Ipswich.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 9 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Real Madrid Castilla | 2013–14 | Segunda División | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 |
| Real Madrid Castilla | 2014–15 | Segunda División B | 25 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 25 | 3 |
| Real Madrid Castilla | Total | Total | 33 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 3 |
| Milton Keynes Dons | 2015–16 | Championship | 2 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Charleroi | 2015–16 | Belgian Pro League | 9 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 11 | 2 |
| Charleroi | 2016–17 | Belgian First Division A | 19 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 28 | 6 |
| Charleroi | 2017–18 | Belgian First Division A | 27 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 39 | 11 |
| Charleroi | 2018–19 | Belgian First Division A | 22 | 9 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 24 | 10 |
| Charleroi | Total | Total | 77 | 21 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 3 | 102 | 29 |
| Pyramids | 2018–19 | Egyptian Premier League | 12 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 3 |
| Nantes (loan) | 2019–20 | Ligue 1 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Antwerp (loan) | 2020–21 | Belgian First Division A | 9 | 2 | — | — | 6 | 0 | 15 | 2 |
| Charleroi (loan) | 2020–21 | Belgian First Division A | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| Alianza Lima | 2022 | Peruvian Primera División | 26 | 6 | — | — | 4 | 0 | 30 | 6 |
| Universidad César Vallejo | 2024 | Peruvian Primera División | 5 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Sport Boys (loan) | 2024 | Peruvian Primera División | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 |
| Gloria Buzău | 2024–25 | Liga I | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 145 | 28 | 12 | 5 | 17 | 3 | 175 | 36 |
* ↑ Appearances in Belgian Cup, English League Cup, and Coupe de la Ligue
* ↑ Appearances in EFL Cup
* ↑ Appearances in Belgian Pro League European play-offs
* 1 2 Appearances in Belgian First Division A Championship play-offs
* ↑ Appearances in Coupe de la Ligue
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Appearances in Copa Libertadores
* ↑ Appearances in Copa Sudamericana

### International

    As of match played 15 November 2019
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Peru |
| Peru | 2013 | 4 | 1 |
| Peru | 2014 | 4 | 0 |
| Peru | 2015 | 1 | 0 |
| Peru | 2016 | 5 | 1 |
| Peru | 2017 | 0 | 0 |
| Peru | 2018 | 4 | 0 |
| Peru | 2019 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 19 | 2 |
    Scores and results list Peru' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Benavente goal.
List of international goals scored by Cristian Benavente :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 1 June 2013 | Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama | Panama | 2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 2 | 23 May 2016 | Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru | Trinidad and Tobago | 4–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |

## Honours

Allianza Lima
* Peruvian Primera División: 2022