Karim Benzema began his career at Lyon, making appearances for the senior team from the age of 17. One of the most remarkable talents of his generation, he demonstrated his abilities at the UEFA European Under-21 Championship and youth tournaments, scoring over 30 goals in one season. It is no wonder that the Lyon management and coaching staff recognised his potential and promoted the young star to the first team. Initially, Karim Benzema was compared to David Trezeguet in terms of talent. His phenomenal goalscoring instincts, ability to score from difficult positions and prowess in heading the ball made him stand out and drew such flattering comparisons. However, later on, Benzema began to be compared to Zinedine Zidane for his excellent dribbling, unconventional movement on the pitch and his ability to contribute not only in attack but also by helping his teammates. But his greatest talent lay elsewhere. Karim excelled in adapting his game to the needs of the team, providing exactly what was required. It was this trait that earned him maximum recognition from the coaching staff of the teams he played for. All of this combined allowed Benzema to attract the attention of Europe's strongest teams, ultimately shaping his successful career.
Karim Benzema faced a huge challenge from the start, having to fight for his place in the starting eleven. Even during his presentation at Lyon, he responded to the jeers of the first-team players by saying: "Laugh all you want, but I'm here to take your place in the starting eleven." This already indicated Benzema's incredible determination and willingness to put in the effort to become an exceptional player. Despite intense competition, Karim broke into Lyon's first team within two seasons. Initially, he failed to live up to the expectations of the coaches, scoring only 12 goals in 53 games in his first two seasons. However, Benzema never gave up. His perseverance in training and desire to achieve more eventually caught the attention of then-France national team coach Gérard Houllier, who began to build the team's attack around the young forward. Benzema repaid the coach's trust by scoring 54 goals in the following two seasons. After his transfer to Real Madrid, the forward also faced significant challenges. Competing with Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuaín and Kaká, he was mocked by José Mourinho, who compared him to a hunting cat, as well as criticism from the Spanish press. But the competition only fueled Karim's determination. He began to work even harder in training and off the pitch, and it eventually paid off. After the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti, the Frenchman cemented his place in the starting eleven, forming one of the strongest attacking trios in football history alongside Bale and Cristiano. After Ronaldo's departure, being practically the only star in attack, Benzema once again had to show perseverance and develop leadership qualities. Taking young players like Vinicius and Rodrigo under his wing, Karim not only elevated their game but also made significant contributions himself. Thanks to his efforts, Real Madrid won the Champions League once again. Despite his immense talent, Benzema had to put in enormous efforts to achieve greatness. Hard work was indispensable in his journey to the pinnacle of success.
It is no secret that Benzema has had to adapt his style of play several times for the benefit of the team. At Lyon, Karim plays as a pure striker, around whom the entire team's attack is built. After his transfer to Madrid, he had to adapt to completely different circumstances. Cristiano took the leading role and Benzema had to completely change his style, focusing more on assists and doing a lot of defensive work. And Karim excelled in this role, eventually becoming Ronaldo's main passer. After Ronaldo's departure, Benzema had to adapt to new conditions again. While the inexperienced Brazilians and Bale and Hazard were struggling to regain their form, he had to step in and take on the role of leader. And he handled it brilliantly too. Each time, Benzema easily adapted to the new circumstances, becoming the cat that can sneak into any gap and fill the void. This was greatly appreciated by all the coaches he worked with.
The ability to Karim Benzema to take responsibility in crucial moments has been evident throughout his career. It is worth noting that around a quarter of all his goals have been winners. Yet his leadership qualities have truly shone in recent seasons, particularly in the Champions League. Those magical goals at the Santiago Bernabeu in games against Chelsea, Manchester City and PSG will remain in the memories of fans as a brilliant performance by an incredible player. But it was not just his goals that propelled the team forward. His guidance to younger players, his support for the team and the immense energy he injected in difficult moments are immeasurable and cannot be accurately measured.
What distinguishes geniuses from good players is that the former create masterpieces, while the latter simply do their job. The masterpieces created by Benzema are accessible to only a few. Just consider his famous dribble against « Atletico » or the goal through his own legs against « Barcelona »! We must also acknowledge how Karim mesmerizes goalkeepers, causing the likes of Karius, Donnarumma, and others to suffer. And what about his ingenious back-heel passes amidst a crowd of players? Karim worked magic on the field, and describing it in a few words is simply not possible, nor can it be given any rational explanation.
Benzema's goal-scoring statistics are in no way overshadowed by other top strikers. Despite spending a significant portion of his career in Cristiano's shadow, he managed to score a phenomenal 354 goals for Madrid in 648 games. On average, Karim scored in almost every other game, surpassing other Real Madrid legends such as Raul, as well as top-tier strikers like Shevchenko, Vieira, Trezeguet, Henry, and many others. Benzema ranks among the top four scorers in La Liga and the Champions League. He is the second-highest scorer in Real Madrid history and the fifth-highest in the French national team. Such a legacy will not be easily surpassed by future generations.
In addition to his main role as a striker, Karim Benzema fulfilled the role of a connecting player in the attack. The Frenchman was constantly moving between the lines, moving down the flanks, confusing his opponents with his movements, and then delivering exquisite passes. It is no wonder that Benzema provided a large number of assists throughout his career. The true essence of his greatness is captured by the fact that he is the all-time leading passer in Real Madrid's more than a century-long history. In those same 648 matches, he provided 165 assists, 57 of which went to Cristiano. Overall, when you consider Benzema's overall impact on the team's attack, he consistently contributed to at least one scoring move in almost every game. His mere presence on the pitch gave his team a one-goal advantage, making life much more difficult for opponents. This is precisely why he became the perfect complement to Ronaldo. Karim carried a constant additional threat that his opponents could not ignore. Whether he scored himself or granted the privilege to others, it was ultimately impossible to completely neutralize the threat emanating from Benzema.
Throughout his illustrious career, Karim Benzema has won 34 trophies, 25 of which were with Real Madrid, 7 with Lyon and 2 with the French national team. He has won the national championships 8 times, as well as 10 national cups and super cups. In addition, he is a five-time FIFA Club World Champion and four-time UEFA Super Cup winner. With the national team, he has won the UEFA Nations Cup and the European Championship (under-17 level). However, the most remarkable record remains his 5 UEFA Champions League victories, including three consecutive ones, an unprecedented feat in history. In each of these triumphs, the contribution of the modest Lyonnais Karim Benzema has been immense.
The peak of Karim Benzema's career came with the global recognition of his greatness. The Frenchman embarked on a long journey towards his dream, overcoming many obstacles on his way. Despite being in the shadow of supreme geniuses Messi and Ronaldo, he managed to get his talent recognized, something that even other brilliant players like Henry, Ribery, Robben and others could not achieve. Winning the 2021/2022 Ballon d'Or marked his permanent place in football history, leaving a beautiful signature under his own magnificence. All previous individual awards pale in comparison: four awards for the best player in France, two Di Stefano awards for the best player in Spain, the Pichichi Trophy and the status of top scorer in the French league. These distinctions only highlighted the main goal that Benzema pursued throughout his life: to be recognized as the best player on the planet. And Karim fully deserved it.
When geniuses depart, they leave behind a void. It’s not easy to replace a fading star because its light goes with it. However, if the light was warm, there is a chance that those who were close enough will be warmed sufficiently to start shining on their own. After Ronaldo’s departure from Madrid, a void was created, which was filled by a slightly less radiant player. But unlike Cristiano, there is a feeling that after Benzema’s departure, the light will not disappear but continue to shine through a new generation nurtured by him. Vinicius Junior, Rodrigo Goes, Fede Valverde have grown under the warm light of Benzema for a long time, and now it’s their turn to ignite and continue the path he has set for them. The ability to pass on one’s genius to others is a skill that shapes a legacy, and in the case of Karim Benzema , it is also part of his brilliance.Karim Benzema has had an impressive career. Numerous trophies, brilliant performances, and high professionalism will forever be remembered by people. Many of them will introduce their children to football, hoping that one day they too can grow into remarkable players and attempt to surpass their idol’s achievements. But thanks to the greatness of Karim Benzema, this will be an incredibly difficult task.