Karim Benzema added an illustrious Ballon d’Or title to his cabinet in 2022, having achieved nearly everything in his career thus far. However, the dream of lifting the World Cup with France eluded him after he was injured a few days before the tournament started in Qatar.
France went on to lose the final against Argentina on penalties and Benzema, who was not replaced in the squad and was rumoured to be fit for the knockout clashes, announced his retirement from international football on December 19.
“I made the effort and the mistakes it took to be where I am today and I’m proud of it! I have written my story and ours is ending,” Benzema wrote on Instagram.
Karim Benzema made his France debut in 2007 in a friendly fixture against Austria and scored on his debut.
Unfortunately for the Galactico striker, a lot of his international appearances were restricted to friendlies and qualifiers. He only appeared in one FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where he made five appearances and scored thrice.
His club career, however, had lesser hiccups and more glory. An impressive couple of seasons with Olympique Lyon in 2007-08 and 2008-09, where he collectively scored 54 goals in 99 matches, earned him a big money move to Real Madrid, the same summer when Cristiano Ronaldo joined them on a world record transfer.
After a slow beginning, Benzema picked up pace in the second season, returning with 26 goals across all competitions. In 2011-12, Benzema smashed 21 goals in La Liga (32 overall) and won his first league title with the Real Madrid.
He went on to win three more league titles, alongside five Champions League titles, three Copa del Reys, four UEFA Super Cups and five FIFA Club World Cups in the next decade.
His 44-goal tally in 46 matches in the 2021-22 season saw Real Madrid win the La Liga and Champions League, earning him the Ballon d’Or and the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award.
After Real Madrid: Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal
Benzema left Real Madrid in June 2023, after 14 seasons, and joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad on a free transfer. He was made club captain in August 2023.
In 2024-25 he led Al-Ittihad to the league and King’s Cup double, scoring 21 goals in 28 league games, and was named the Saudi Pro League’s player of the season. A hat-trick against Al-Okhdood on August 30, 2025 took him past 500 career goals.
After a contract dispute, he moved to Al-Hilal on a free transfer at the end of the January 2026 window and scored a hat-trick on his debut in a 6-0 win over Al-Okhdood. He won the 2025-26 King’s Cup with Al-Hilal, but the club and Benzema ended his contract by mutual consent on August 31, 2026, leaving him a free agent at 38.
Karim Benzema stats
International football stats (France)
|
Competition |
Matches |
Goals |
Assists |
|
FIFA World Cup |
5 |
3 |
2 |
|
FIFA World Cup qualifiers |
22 |
7 |
3 |
|
UEFA Euro |
10 |
4 |
2 |
|
UEFA Euro qualifiers |
12 |
5 |
4 |
|
UEFA Nations League |
5 |
3 |
0 |
|
Friendlies |
43 |
15 |
9 |
|
Overall |
97 |
37 |
20 |
Club football Stats
Olympique Lyon
|
Competition |
Matches |
Goals |
Assists |
|
Ligue 1 |
112 |
43 |
23 |
|
Champions League |
19 |
12 |
3 |
|
Others |
17 |
11 |
1 |
|
Overall |
148 |
66 |
27 |
Real Madrid
|
Competition |
Matches |
Goals |
Assists |
|
La Liga |
439 |
238 |
119 |
|
Champions League |
133 |
78 |
27 |
|
Others |
76 |
38 |
19 |
|
Overall |
648 |
354 |
165 |
Al-Ittihad
|
Competition |
Matches |
Goals |
|
Saudi Pro League |
64 |
38 |
|
King’s Cup |
7 |
9 |
|
AFC Champions League |
7 |
4 |
|
Others |
9 |
6 |
|
Overall |
87 |
57 |
Al-Hilal
|
Competition |
Matches |
Goals |
|
Saudi Pro League |
12 |
10 |
|
King’s Cup |
3 |
0 |
|
AFC Champions League Elite |
1 |
0 |
|
Overall |
16 |
10 |
Saudi figures as of August 2026. Assists are not listed for the Saudi clubs.
Photo Credit: Alamy