Table of Contents
Who Is Karim Benzema?
Karim Benzema has spent over two decades as a member of the professional football club and has played a variety of roles for various coaches. Karim Benzema is incredibly adaptable when it comes to his area of specialty, which is what distinguishes him from other strikers.
He is currently a striker for the Spanish team Real Madrid and is regarded as one of the finest in the world.
In addition, he has received thirteen honors to date and is fifth all-time in both goals scored and assists given for the team.
Here, we’ll go into great detail regarding Karim’s life, starting with his difficulties when he was a rookie.
We shall learn about his international games in addition to his national games.
He has participated in over four international competitions, earning over 90 caps.
More Facts About Karim Benzema
Full Name | Karim Mostafa Benzema |
Date of Birth | December 19, 1987 |
Birth Place | Lyon, France |
Nick Name | Coco |
Religion | Muslim |
Nationality | French |
Ethnicity | White |
Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
Age | 34 years old |
Height | 1.85 meters (6 feet 1 inch) |
Weight | 80 kg (176 lb) |
Hair Color | Dark Brown |
Eye Color | Light Brown |
Build | Athletic |
Father’s Name | Hafid Benzema |
Mother’s Name | Wahida Djebbara |
Siblings | Five sisters; Nafissa Benzema, Lydia Benzema, Laeticia Benzema, Sofia Benzema, Celia Benzema Three brothers; Gressy Benzema, Sabri Benzema, Farid Benzema |
Education | Unknown |
Marital Status | Married |
Wife | Cora Gauthier |
Kids | Two children; Ibrahim and Mélia |
Profession | Football player |
Position | Striker |
Youth Teams | Bron Lyon |
Senior Team |
|
Jersey Number | Nine (9) |
Net Worth | $46 million |
Social Media | Instagram, Twitter, YouTube |
Merch | Poster, Autographed Photo |
Last Update | August 2022 |
Imran Benzema Body Dimensions
A physically fit man with fair skin and light brown eyes is Karim Benzema.
He also sports well-cut dark brown hair.
Karim weighs 80 kilograms and measures a total height of 1.85 meters (6 feet 1 inch) (176 lb).
In addition, he maintains his 42-inch (1.07-meter) chest, 33-inch (8.5-meter) waist, and 15-inch (3.9-meter) biceps measurements.
Exercise Routine
Karim follows a high-intensity training schedule to preserve his physical health and toned appearance.
Karim works out in strength training on Monday and Thursday, to give specifics.
He concentrates on squats, reverses lunges, barbell pushes, chin-ups, rack pulls, G swings, and knee-to-chest tucks during the day.
Karim also works out for conditioning on Tuesdays.
In addition to many others, it features Russian twists, hangs cleans, burpees, combat ropes, and sprawl to pull-ups.
Moving on, he exercises his cardio on Wednesdays.
Karim also does bodyweight and fitness exercises on Fridays.
It reportedly includes pull-ups, dips, inverted rows, and alligator walks, to name a few.
Karim takes rest days on Saturdays and Sundays to wrap up the work week.
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Food menu
Karim only eats one meal a day as part of his diet, and he attempts to keep his weight stable.
He typically consumes home-cooked meals prepared by his chef Alberto Mastromatteo, which helps him maintain a healthy weight.
Karim also enjoys eating tuna fish and drinks orange juice daily.
Early Years of Karim Benzema
On December 19, 1987, Karim Mostafa Benzema, his full name, was born in Lyon, France.
He was actually the sixth son to be born to his parents, Wahida Djebbara and Hafid Benzema, out of the family’s nine children.
Speaking about his ancestry, Karim is of French nationality but is descended from Algeria.
He claims that his family arrived in the volatile Bron neighborhood from Algeria.
His paternal grandpa, Da Lakehal Benzema, initially resided in the village of Tigzirt and didn’t leave until the 1950s.
His mother was a native of Lyon, while his father was also born in the commune of Tigzirt.
His mother, meantime, was born in Oran. Karim has five sisters: Nafissa, Lydia, Laeticia, Sofia, and Celia Benzema.
He also has a brother named Ali.
He also shares three brothers: Grassy, Sabri, and Farid Benzema.
Among his siblings, Grassy and Sabri, his younger brothers, are both football players.
Gressy now competes for the Vaulx-le-Velin in the Division d’Honneur at the amateur level. Sabri participates in a club at Bron’s young academy.
Days of Childhood
Karim Benzema experienced many problems as a child, including a gang brawl and minor misdemeanors.
In the end, his father corrected him and showed him the way.
He spent his time in Catholic school, which wasn’t an easy choice for an immigrant to make.
Karim was overweight back then and struggled with his weight. As a result, he was frequently bullied by his classmates.
He started following his diet and controlling his weight as a result.
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Benzema, Karim | Career
Karim actually started his career at the young age of eight with his hometown team, Bron Terraillon SC.
He started his career back then after attracting the notice of the Lyon Club administrators.
After he scored a goal against the Lyon Youth Academy, they became interested in him.
At that moment, he picked up the name “Coco.” Soon after the event, representatives from Lyon came to scout Karim, but according to the Bron’s president Serge Santa Cruz, he turned them down.
The contract was then discussed with Karim’s parents by the Lyons Club, and they accepted it.
Karim began his career with the Lyon Club as a ballboy and a member of their youth team.
Lyon
Many people criticized him for being overweight and having an introverted nature.
Because he was a shy and quiet athlete, he initially struggled greatly.
Despite all of this, Karim competed for the domestic under-16 league, Championnat National des 16 ans, where he scored a total of 38 goals.
After that, in the 2004–05 season, he advanced to the reserve team.
He competed in the amateur Championnat de France, the fourth category in France.
Karim scored a team-high ten goals with them.
Advancement and Beyond
After the 2004 season, Karim Benzema received his significant break when he was promoted to the senior team.
He was a member of the team managed by Paul Le Guen back then.
However, at the initial stage, he once more encountered laughing and jokes from his senior. Karim immediately responded with the next phrase in response to their jokes.
“Please don’t mock me. Remember that I used to be your ball boy, but now I’m here to compete and take your spot while wearing the club’s number 10 jersey.
Kimir Benzema
He then made his professional debut on January 15, 2005, which was not too long after.
Likewise, on April 2, 2005, his first professional start came only after three in-game appearances.
The following season, Gérard Houllier took over as the team’s manager, but he initially had trouble on the field.
Later, he made his UEFA Champions League debut, scoring his first goal as a professional in the process.
Karim finally received his number 10 shirt in 2007 and assumed the position of striker in charge.
He also led the league in goals with 20 and demonstrated his abilities by winning many trophies during this period.
He immediately extended his contract with the group, making him the highest-paid athlete in France at the moment.
He has accumulated 66 goals in 148 games for the team.
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Madrid Real
Karim joined the Lyon Club for five years before transferring on July 1, 2009, for €35 million plus bonuses, to the Spanish club Real Madrid.
Their contract was for six years, and on July 20, he made his club debut in the inaugural preseason friendly game.
Karim quickly became the club’s leading scorer and made his Champions League debut on September 30.
He served as a stand-in once more and received criticism for not being able to adjust to the circumstances.
He also found it challenging to learn Spanish at the same time.
Karim switched to the number 9 shirt for the 2010–11 season, and even now, years later, he is still the subject of press stories and speculation regarding his potential and weight.
Karim scored his 100th goal as a professional in 2011 against his hometown team, and his goals helped him finish the season only behind Cristiano Ronaldo.
He made his first La Liga Championship appearance in the 2011–12 campaign, where he only scored once in four games.
Later, in December 2011, Karim scored the goal in the quickest time of just 21 seconds.
He was the finest French football player a year later. He then extended his deal with the organization for a further five years on August 6, 2014.
He had also eclipsed Thierry Henry by 2017, at which point he renewed his contract through 2021.
After Cristiano Ronaldo departed the team for Juventus the next year, Karim assumed the role of the team’s new goal scorer.
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Best Scorer
He scored 30 goals overall throughout the 2018–19 season, making him the club’s leading scorer.
Karim scored his 200th club goal during the group stage of the 2018 UEFA Champions League.
He became, behind Lionel Messi, the second player to score in 15 straight Champions League seasons after that in the 2019–20 campaign.
He later joined an exclusive group of Real Madrid players who have 50 goals in a single competition.
Karim surpassed all other scorers on the team in August 2020 by scoring 27 goals for the second straight season.
He accepted a contract extension through the 2023 season and assumed the vice-captaincy of Real Madrid as of the 2021–22 season.
Karim, one of only four Real Madrid players, scored 200 La Liga goals.
Youth Career International Career
Karim Benzema played for France’s Generation in 1987 during his youth when he made his international debut while playing under Philippe Bergeron.
Later, after being released from the under-18 team, he started every game and made his team debut in a local Czech tournament.
Karim played a total of 18 games for his under-18 team and scored a team-high 14 goals.
He played for his under-21 team in both the first leg and the second leg as a starter and replacement.
Karim initially acquired his international scout through former federation president Hamid Haddadj and later coach Jean-Michel Cavalli in 2006.
Senior Career
Karim received his initial call-out for the senior national squad that same year, in 2006, from Raymond Domenech.
Similar to that, he played his first game for his country against Austria on March 28, 2007.
He first had trouble in the international arena during the 2008 season, but he successfully bounced back in the 2010 campaign.
He stood with the number 10 after first donning the number nine jersey.
He finally scored a goal for the national team in a game against Australia in 2014.
Honors and Awards
A dynamic player with a reputation for his work ethic, playmaking, and finishing, Karim Benzema excels in the air.
In addition to being a skilled striker, he is also as adept at playing the wing and forward positions.
Furthermore, a lot of media rate him a “nine and a half” for his ingenuity in the games.
The following is a list of some of his current honors and accomplishments.
- 2008 Bravo Award
- Top scorer in Ligue 1 from 2007 to 2008
- UNFP 2008 January and April Ligue 1 Player of the Month and UNFP Player of the Year Best French player abroad in 2018–19 and 2020–21
- Star of the Year: 2007-08 EDGE 2011 March Performance of the Month
- 2020–21 UEFA Champions League Team of the Year
- Top assist producer in the UEFA Champions League in 2011–12
- Three times in La Liga: in March 2021, June 2020, and October 2014
- Player of the Year in France in 2011, 2012, and 2014
- 2019 and 2021 UNFP Trophies for Best French Player Playing Abroad
- 2019–20 Alfredo Di Stéfano Trophy
- 2019–20 MARCA Player of the Year (Voted by Fans)
- 2020–21 Onze d’Or
- The 2020 UEFA European Championship bronze medalist
- European Under-17 Championship held by UEFA in 2004
- 2011–12, 2016–17, and 2019–20 in La Liga
- 2013–14 and 2010–11 Copa del Rey
- Spanish Supercup: 2012 and 2017
- the years 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, and 2017–18 in the UEFA Champions League
- UEFA Super Cup, years 2014, 2016, and 2017.
- 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018 FIFA Club World Cup
Injury Type: Karim Benzema’s injuries
Injury Type | Date of Injury | Days and Games Missed |
Ruptured intraarticular ligament initiation in knee | March 24, 2008-April 14, 2008 | 21 days (3 games) |
Thigh Problems | November 27, 2008-December 11, 2008 | 14 days (3 games) |
Tear in the abductor’s muscle | February 20, 2012-March 8, 2012 | 17 days (3 games) |
Hamstring Injury | November 5, 2012-November 15, 2012 | 10 days (2 games) |
Knee inflammation | May 8, 2014-May 13, 2014 | 5 days (1 game) |
Adductor problems | May 18, 2014-May 22, 2014 | 4 days |
Medial Collateral Ligament Injury | April 16, 2015-May 7, 2015 | 21 days (6 games) |
Strain | August 3, 2015-August 27, 2015 | 24 days (1 game) |
Thigh Muscle Strain | October 8, 2015-November 16, 2015 | 39 days (6 games) |
Back trouble | February 18, 2016-February 25, 2016 | 7 days (1 game) |
Thigh Muscle Strain | February 29, 2016-March 17, 2016 | 17 days (4 games) |
Thigh Problems | April 7, 2016-April 11, 2016 | 4 days (1 game) |
Knee Problems | April 28, 2016-May 9, 2016 | 11 days (3 games) |
Groin Injury | August 11, 2016-September 8, 2016 | 28 days (2 games) |
Muscular problems | November 3, 2016-November 17, 2016 | 14 days (1 game) |
Hamstring Injury | September 10, 2017-October 9, 2017 | 29 days (6 games) |
Hamstring Injury | December 30, 2017-January 19, 2018 | 20 days (5 games) |
Hamstring Injury | October 7, 2018-October 17, 2018 | 10 days |
Fractured Finger | January 14, 2019-January 18, 2019 | 4 days (1 game) |
Muscle Injury | April 26, 2019-May 10, 2019 | 14 days (2 games) |
Bruise | January 6, 2020-January 17, 2020 | 11 days (2 games) |
Muscle Injury | November 21, 2020-December 1, 2020 | 10 days (4 games) |
Adductor problems | February 19, 2021-March 5, 2021 | 14 days (3 games) |
Coronavirus | July 23, 2021-July 30, 2021 | 7 days |
Karim Benzema | Disputations
Karim Benzema, as we all know, has consistently expressed his desire to play for the French squad, for which he has received some flak along the road.
His exact statement is as follows.
It’s in my heart because it’s my parents’ country.
However, it is true that I will play for the French squad after all.
Due to the fact that Algeria is my native country and where my parents are from, it is then more for the sporting aspect.
Then France… Simply put, it is more sporty.
Kimir Benzema
Later, on April 18, 2010, Karim was accused of having a sexual encounter with a prostitute along with Franck Ribéry, Sidney Govou, and Hatem Ben Arfa.
He was accused of “solicitation of a minor prostitute” in one instance, and authorities were looking into another similar incident involving him.
However, the judge later dismissed the case, claiming that there was insufficient evidence to support it.
Karim found himself in the center of yet another controversy nearly five years after the original event.
According to reports, Karim Benzema used a mobile phone video of a sex tape to blackmail Mathieu Valbuena.
He disputed all of the wrongdoings, but the six-year ban from the France national team nevertheless came to pass.
He was tried on January 7, 2021, and the final decision was based on his phone call records.
“A great athlete ought to be an example.
If not, he has no business playing for France.
In our suburbs, there are a ton of young people who have a connection to tremendous famous athletes.
They don the blue jersey, which represents France and is quite significant right now.
-Manuel Valls, the prime minister of France
Benzema, Karim | Net Worth
Karim Benzema currently has a net worth of $46 million, most of which comes from his sporting career.
He also has an $8 million.
Karim makes money in addition to his career games through his several brand endorsement contracts.
He does, however, have a boot agreement with the German sportswear company Adidas.
He has agreements with companies like Hyundai, SFR (Société française du radiotéléphone), LCL (Le Crédit Lyonnais), and bwin in a similar manner.
In addition to his several advertising efforts, Karim also serves as an ambassador for American video game producer Electronic Arts’ FIFA franchise.
Home and Vehicles
Regarding the residence, Karim Benzema acquired a lavishly decorated home in France, India, in 2015.
It will reportedly cost about 2.7 million USD.
He also owns a number of automobile companies, including Range Rover, Mercedes Benz, Ferrari, and Bugatti.
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Benzema, Karim | Personal Life
Karim Benzema is a happily married man with a lovely family right now.
He wed Cora Gauthier in early 2016 after they first met.
It didn’t take long for the two to get along, though.
They gave birth to their son Ibrahim on May 5, 2017, just one year after they first met.
Karim also has a daughter from a prior relationship in addition to that. Melia, his daughter, was conceived on February 3, 2014.
Other than these, nothing is known about the couple’s nuptials.
In terms of Cora Gauthier, she is fairly discreet about her personal life.
She is a model after all, and she has taken part in numerous photo shoots and campaigns.
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On social media
Visit Benzema’s social media accounts if you’re curious about his personal uploads and posts.
He has 42.4 million followers on Instagram as Karim Benzema (@kamrimbenzema).
On Twitter, he goes under the handle @Benzema and has 13.3 million followers.
Additionally, he has 360k subscribers under the name Karim Benzema on YouTube.
Every day, new videos are added to his YouTube channel, including interviews and fan Q&As.