Karim Benzema

**Karim Mostafa Benzema** (born December 19 1987) is a French footballer. He plays as a striker for Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal.

## Career 
Benzema began his career at the Lyon youth academy. Benzema was eyed up by Lyon coaches due to his 15 goals for Lyon II which earnt him a professional contract

In 2009, Real Madrid signed Benzema for a fee of €35 million.

In 2021, Benzema reached the semifinals of the Champions League with Real Madrid, eventually losing to Chelsea after a 2-2 draw in the first leg; and a 3-2 loss in the second.

In October 2021, in the trial of Karim Benzema in the Mathieu Valbuena sextape case, the Versailles prosecutor's office asked the criminal court to pronounce a ten-month suspended prison sentence and a 75,000 euro fine against Karim. Benzema.

In October 2023, Benzema expressed solidarity with the victims of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. In response, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin accused Karim Benzema of “having relations” with the group known as the Muslim Brotherhood. And the senator from the Republican Party of Bouches-du-Rhône, Valérie Boyer, demanded that the player be deprived of French citizenship and the Ballon d'Or if the charges are confirmed.

## Career statistics
### Club
### International
:''Scores and results list France's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Benzema goal''

## Honours
**Lyon**
*Ligue 1: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08
*Coupe de France: 2007–08
*Trophée des Champions: 2006, 2007

**Real Madrid** 2021–22
*Copa del Rey: 2010–11, 2013–14, 2022–23
*Supercopa de España: 2012, 2017, 2019–20, 2021–22
*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 top goalscorer: 2021–22
* FIFA FIFPRO World 11: 2022
* 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 Team of the Season: 2020–21, 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 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)

## References
## Other websites
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* Real Madrid official profile
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