Born in Lyon, France, Karim Benzema's journey to becoming a footballing icon started in his hometown, and he caught the eye of Lyon's academy while playing at Bron Terraillon SC. Under manager Paul Le Guen, Benzema made his professional debut for Olympique Lyonnais on 15th January 2005 against FC Metz, confirming his arrival with an assist in a 2-0 win. It was this same month when he signed his first professional contract, kicking things off for an amazing career.
His goal-scoring ability started to surface more and more in the 2007/08 season when Benzema scored his first hat trick against FC Metz in a commanding 5-1 victory. Also, in the 2008/09 season, in a massive game against Marseille he scored a brace that helped secure Lyon's place in the Champions League, showing his ability to deliver during crucial moments.
During his time in Ligue 1, Benzema won the league trophy four times, claimed the Coupe de France once, and the Trophée des Champions twice. His individual efforts were evident as he earned the Ligue 1 top scorer in 2007/08 and secured the UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year award in the same season, confirming his impact and talent.
Moving to Real Madrid marked a massive phase in Benzema's career, featuring a number of significant achievements. While his time there was full of collective titles, he achieved what was probably the icing on the cake of his individual career with his Ballon d'Or triumph in 2022, confirming not only his talent but his consistency as well.
Representing the French national team, Benzema made his debut on 28th March 2007 against Austria, making an immediate impact by scoring the only goal of the match. His best moment with France came with the UEFA Nations League trophy in 2020/21, where he played a very important role. This trophy made him the most decorated Frenchman in football history.
Happy Birthday, Karim Benzema!
