After 14 years with the Spanish giants, French striker Karim Benzema has left Real Madrid, ending what has been a hugely successful period for both the player and the club. During that time, he played 648 games for the Madrid club, scoring 354 goals.
Benzema made the move to Real from his first club Lyon. He got off to a slow start to life in La Liga, but once he familiarised himself with the Spanish league, the goals started to flow regularly.
Benzema Helped Real to Five Champions League Wins
The Frenchman won La Liga four times, he lifted the Champions League trophy on five occasions, including in the 2021/22 campaign, while he helped the Spanish club become the FIFA Club World Cup winners in five different years.
Unfortunately for Benzema, he was unable to win the Champions League for a sixth time this season. His side were beaten by Manchester City in the semi-finals. The Premier League club is now -450 with Paddy Power to lift the trophy for the first time.
Manchester City is a popular selection in the sports betting tips for the Champions League final, and they will be relieved to have gotten past Real and Benzema. In the last four of the competition in the 2021/22 campaign, the former France international produced two exceptional performances against them. He scored three goals across the two legs of the tie to eliminate the English club.
Ballon d’Or Success in 2022
In his last five seasons at Real Madrid, Benzema has only once failed to reach 20 La Liga goals for the campaign, and that was during his last year at the club. He fell just short with 19 league goals, but he did find the back of the net 31 times in all competitions.
Karim Benzema becomes the first Frenchman to win the Ballon d'Or since Zidane in 1998 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/OUw4mNfP1J
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 17, 2022
The pick of Benzema’s campaigns at Real Madrid was the 2021/22 season. He scored 27 La Liga goals, the highest in the league, and he netted 44 times in 46 games in all competitions. That led to the Frenchman being named the Ballon d’Or winner at the end of 2022.
Only two players have been able to stop Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo from winning the Ballon d’Or since 2008, and they are Luka Modric and Benzema. The latter received 549 points, finishing ahead of Sadio Mane and Kevin De Bruyne respectively.
Benzema Did Enough to Cement His Place Among the Greats

At the age of 35, Benzema leaves Real Madrid as the fourth all-time goalscorer in La Liga history. He trails only Messi, Ronaldo, and Telmo Zarra on that list. He finishes ahead of Real Madrid legends Hugo Sanchez, Raul, and Alfredo Di Stefano.
Benzema has done enough to cement his position as of the best strikers of his generation. Robert Lewandowski and Harry Kane are two of the other players who have consistently delivered in one of the best leagues in Europe over the last decade.
Internationally, the former Real player made 97 appearances for France, scoring 37 goals. He was not part of Les Bleus’ World success in 2018, but he did help them to a UEFA Nations League trophy in 2021.
What Next for Benzema?
The next chapter in Benzema’s career will come in Saudi Arabia as he has signed a three-year deal with Al Ittihad, as reported by the Guardian. His deal is reported to be in the region of £86 million per season for the Saudi Pro League champions.
W E L C O M E !
— Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) June 6, 2023
B E N Z E M A 💪💪 pic.twitter.com/Oc9IK4OoDj
Benzema will be joining his former Real teammate Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League next season. He could be the first of many high-profile names to switch to the league in 2023. The reigning Ballon d’Or winner will be coached at the Jeddah-based club by Nuno Espirito Santo, the former Tottenham and Wolves head coach.
The new Al Ittihad striker can give his full focus to the club as he retired from international football for France last December, so he will not be called up for Les Bleus during their Euro 2024 qualifiers later this year.
Benzema, a winner of 24 trophies with Real Madrid, is set to appear at the Bernabeu one last time for a farewell event where Real fans will have their chance to show their appreciation for their former number nine.
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