Karim Mostafa Benzema is a French professional footballer who currently plays as a striker for the French national football team and the Spanish professional football club ‘Real Madrid.’ He began his football career at the age of 9 with the Lyon-based club ‘Olympique Lyonnais,’ where he quickly rose to prominence. In the 2007-2008 season, he became the top scorer, helping Lyon secure their seventh consecutive league title. Benzema’s talent and success led him to sign a six-year contract with Real Madrid in 2009, where he has achieved numerous accomplishments, including winning the ‘Copa del Rey’ and the ‘La Liga.’ He has also been recognized as the ‘French Player of the Year’ three times. Additionally, Benzema has made significant contributions to the French national team, participating in major international tournaments such as the ‘UEFA European Football Championship’ and the ‘FIFA World Cup.’
Quick Facts
- French Celebrities Born In December
- Also Known As: Karim Mostafa Benzema
- Age: 36 Years, 36 Year Old Males
- Family: father: Hafid Benzema, mother: Wahida Djebbara, siblings: Celia Benzema, Farid Benzema, Gressy Benzema, Laeticia Benzema, Lydia Benzema, Nafissa Benzema, Sabri Benzema, Sofia Benzema
- Born Country: France
- Football Players
- French Men
- Height: 6’1″ (185 cm), 6’1″ Males
- Ancestry: Algerian French
- City: Lyon, France
- Awards: French Player of the Year, Trophées UNFP du football, Bravo Award
Childhood & Early Life
Karim Benzema was born on December 19, 1987, in Lyon, France, to Hafid Benzema and Wahida Djebbara. He grew up in a small house in Bron and led a modest lifestyle along with his eight siblings. At the age of 8, he joined the local football club ‘Bron Terraillon SC’ and began his career in football. His younger brothers, Sabri and Gressy, also became footballers. Benzema caught the attention of the club officials of ‘Lyon’ after scoring two goals against the youth academy of the club in an ‘Under-10’ match. He eventually joined ‘Lyon’ in 1996.
Career
After joining Lyon, Benzema climbed up the youth categories and scored 38 goals in the French domestic league ‘Championnat National des 16 ans’ for footballers below the age of 16. He was then elevated to the reserve team of the club that participated in the football league competition ‘Championnat de France Amateur.’ He made his professional debut on January 15, 2005, against ‘FC Metz’ and signed a three-year professional contract with Lyon. He made his ‘UEFA Champions League’ debut on December 6, 2005, and scored his first professional double in January 2006.
During the 2007-2008 season, Benzema played as the lead striker and scored 20 goals, topping the league. He also helped Lyon earn the first double in the history of the club. He had a contract extension with Lyon in 2008 and was named the ‘Ligue 1 Player of the Year’ by the ‘UNFP.’ In 2009, he signed a six-year contract with the Spanish club ‘Real Madrid’ and made his debut with the club in July of that year. He has since had a successful career with Real Madrid, winning numerous titles including ‘La Liga’ and the ‘UEFA Champions League.’
Personal Life
Benzema was romantically associated with Manon Marsault from 2010 to 2013. He has two children, Mélia and Ibrahim. He is a practicing Muslim and observes fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. However, he has faced legal troubles, including being charged for solicitation of a minor prostitute and being arrested for blackmailing another footballer.