Real Madrid's Karim Benzema has been plagued by minor injuries this season, but he has found his form just in time for Madrid's crucial upcoming matches.
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| On Wednesday, April 5th, 2023, Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema celebrated together after Vinicius scored the team's first goal in the Spanish Copa del Rey semifinal second leg soccer match against Barcelona at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain.(Getty) |
Despite only featuring in 31 of Madrid's 45 games this season, Benzema has been effective when healthy and has played a key role in Madrid's success in the Champions League and Copa del Rey. Madrid is set to face Chelsea in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, with hopes of defending their title and securing their 15th European Cup. Benzema's exceptional performance has been praised by Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, who believes that the striker's current form makes a significant difference in the team's overall success. Madrid will face Osasuna in the Copa del Rey final on May 6th, and they are currently 12 points behind Barcelona in the Spanish league standings.
Karim Benzema biography
Karim Benzema, a French professional footballer born on December 19, 1987, in Lyon, France, is widely recognized as one of the best strikers in the world. He is famous for his exceptional technique, precise finishing, and ability to create scoring opportunities for his teammates.
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| Karim Benzema(Getty) |
Benzema's football journey started when he was a child, playing for local youth teams before joining the Olympique Lyonnais academy at the age of nine. In 2005, he made his professional debut for the club and quickly established himself as a vital player, winning four consecutive Ligue 1 titles and gaining recognition as one of the most promising young talents in French football.
In 2009, Real Madrid, a Spanish club, signed Benzema for €35 million, making him the most expensive French player at that time. Since then, he has become an essential player for the team, winning several domestic and international titles, including five UEFA Champions League trophies.
Benzema has also been a regular member of the French national team since 2007, representing his country in major international tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship. He has scored more than 30 goals for Les Bleus and is regarded as one of the team's key players.
While Benzema is a respected and adored figure in the football world, he has been involved in various controversies throughout his career. These include his alleged involvement in a sex-tape scandal and his exclusion from the French national team for several years due to a dispute with the team's coach. Nevertheless, he continues to be recognized as one of the greatest players of his generation.
Karim Benzema's career highlights
Karim Benzema is widely regarded as one of the world's best strikers and has an impressive list of career highlights. Some of his notable achievements include:
Winning four consecutive Ligue 1 titles with Olympique Lyonnais between 2005 and 2008.
Winning five UEFA Champions League trophies with Real Madrid in the 2013-14, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2021-22 seasons.
Claiming four FIFA Club World Cup titles with Real Madrid in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Winning three UEFA Super Cups with Real Madrid in 2014, 2016, and 2017.
Scoring over 350 goals during his career, with more than 200 of those goals coming from his time at Real Madrid.
Being named the Ligue 1 Player of the Year in 2008 and being included in the UEFA Team of the Year three times in 2011, 2012, and 2014.
Being a regular member of the French national team since 2007, representing his country in major international tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship.
Being the joint top scorer in La Liga with 23 goals during the 2020-21 season and being named the league's Player of the Month for April 2021.
Being named the French Player of the Year in 2011, 2012, and 2014.
Serving as a key player for Real Madrid and contributing to the team's success in winning numerous domestic and international titles.
Karim Benzema's personal life
Karim Benzema family
Karim Benzema is known for being a family-oriented individual, and he shares a close bond with his loved ones. He was born in the Bron neighborhood of Lyon, France, to parents of Algerian heritage. Benzema's father, Hafid Benzema, is of Berber descent and used to work as a school caretaker. His mother, Wahida Djebbara, is also of Algerian origin and worked as a house cleaner.
Benzema has four siblings, three brothers, and one sister. His younger brother, Gressy Benzema, is a professional football player who currently plays for the French club Villefranche. Moreover, Benzema is related to French international footballer Hatem Ben Arfa.
Benzema takes pride in being a father to his two children, a daughter named Mélia, born in 2014, and a son named Ibrahim, born in 2017. He often shares glimpses of his family life on his social media handles, indicating his affection for spending time with his loved ones when he is not playing football.
Karim Benzema Hobbies
When Karim Benzema is not playing football, he indulges in a few hobbies and interests. One of his favorite pastimes is playing basketball with friends during his leisure time. He has shared videos of his basketball skills on social media, which show that he is quite adept at the sport.
Apart from basketball, Benzema is a car enthusiast and has a collection of luxury cars. He has been spotted driving some of the world's most expensive cars, such as the Bugatti Veyron, Lamborghini Aventador, and Ferrari 458 Italia.
Benzema also enjoys spending quality time with his friends and family. He often takes vacations with them during his time off and shares pictures of his travels on social media. Overall, Benzema's hobbies and interests demonstrate his love for sports, luxury, and spending time with loved ones.
Karim Benzema Legal issues
Throughout his career, Karim Benzema has faced several legal issues. In 2010, he was accused of soliciting an underage prostitute and was briefly held in police custody for questioning. Eventually, the charges were dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
In 2015, Benzema was implicated in an alleged blackmail attempt against his French national teammate, Mathieu Valbuena. He was accused of being involved in a scheme to obtain money from Valbuena in exchange for a sex tape. Benzema denied any wrongdoing and claimed that he was only trying to help a friend who was involved in the plot. During the investigation, he was suspended from the national team for a few months, but he was later allowed to return.
In 2021, Benzema faced another legal issue related to the same sex tape incident from 2015. He was charged with complicity in an attempt to blackmail Valbuena. However, Benzema maintained his innocence and denied the allegations. The case is still ongoing, and no verdict has been announced yet.
Despite the controversies surrounding his legal issues, Benzema has continued to play at a high level on the football pitch and has maintained his innocence throughout.
Karim Benzema's controversies
Karim Benzema has faced numerous controversies during his football career. One of the most prominent controversies occurred in 2015 when he was accused of being part of a group attempting to blackmail his teammate, Mathieu Valbuena, by threatening to release a sex tape. While Benzema denied any wrongdoing and claimed that he was only trying to help a friend, he was suspended from the French national team during the investigation. The scandal led to public outcry, with many calling for him to be dropped from the team. Moreover, his strained relationship with fellow teammate Olivier Giroud sparked controversy, with Benzema suggesting that Giroud was inferior to him.
Benzema's comments about the French national team coach, Didier Deschamps, also drew controversy in 2016. He accused Deschamps of discrimination due to his Algerian heritage after being left out of the French squad for the European Championships. His comments were widely criticized by the public.
In 2021, Benzema was again embroiled in a scandal regarding the 2015 incident involving Valbuena. He was charged with complicity in an attempt to blackmail Valbuena, and the case is still ongoing. These controversies have caused some damage to Benzema's reputation, although he has continued to perform well on the football field.
Karim Benzema vs other strikers
Karim Benzema has proven to be a top-class striker in modern football, having scored over 300 goals for both club and country. Unlike some other elite strikers, such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who are known primarily for their goal-scoring abilities, Benzema is recognized for his versatility on the pitch. He not only scores goals but also contributes to the build-up play and assists his teammates.
Although Benzema's goal-scoring record is impressive, it is not as remarkable as that of Messi or Ronaldo. However, he is often commended for his all-around contribution to the team's success and his ability to create scoring opportunities for others.
While Benzema may not possess outstanding physical attributes such as speed or strength, his agility, technical skills, and ability to read the game compensate for it. He is renowned for his intelligent off-the-ball movement, which enables him to find space and create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.
In summary, while Benzema's goal-scoring prowess may not match that of some of his counterparts, he is highly valued for his overall contribution to the team and is considered one of the most complete strikers in contemporary football.
In 2021, Benzema was again embroiled in a scandal regarding the 2015 incident involving Valbuena. He was charged with complicity in an attempt to blackmail Valbuena, and the case is still ongoing. These controversies have caused some damage to Benzema's reputation, although he has continued to perform well on the football field.
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