Karim Benzema has called time on his career at Real Madrid and departs the club as one of the most decorated footballers of all time.
Benzema has made an unforgettable impact at European football’s most successful side, scoring goals at a prolific rate and providing a key contribution to the club’s modern successes both at home and abroad.
The Frenchman has signed a deal to join Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad on a three-year contract, as the Saudi Pro League look to lure big name stars from Europe on lucrative deals.
Benzema’s decision to move to the Middle East brings an end to a captivating career in the colours of Real Madrid and we’ve decided to appreciate some of the best stats from Benzema’s time at the Bernabeu.
Appreciating the stats behind Karim Benzema and an iconic Real Madrid career.
Real Madrid’s most decorated player (25)
Benzema departs Real Madrid as the most decorated player in the club’s history, a staggering achievement given the illustrious list of past players and long history of trophy success at the Bernabeu.
The forward signed for the Spanish side from Lyon in 2009 and spent 14 years at the club, after becoming part of the club’s second wave of Galactico signings under Florentino Perez.
Benzema’s time at Real Madrid saw him win 25 trophies for Los Blancos, a haul that includes five Champions League trophies, four La Liga titles and three Copa del Rey successes.
No Real Madrid player has won more trophies for the club than Karim Benzema.
◉ 5x Champions League
◉ 5x Club World Cup
◉ 4x Supercopa de España
◉ 4x Super Cup
◉ 4x LaLiga
◉ 3x Copa del Rey25 and out. pic.twitter.com/d7Ze28Iccp
— Squawka (@Squawka) June 4, 2023
Just four players – Benzema, Dani Carvajal, Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo – have won five Champions League titles during the modern era and featured in all five of those final wins.
Only Real Madrid legend Franciso Gento – part of the club’s dominant side of the 1950s – has won European football’s biggest prize on more occasions (6).
Real Madrid’s second-highest goalscorer (353)
Benzema scored 353 goals in all competitions for Real Madrid, a return which saw the forward climb past a list of goalscoring greats to become Los Blancos second-highest goalscorer.
Benzema moved past Raul (323) during his final season at the club, having already overtaken names including Alfredo Di Stefano (308), Santillana (289) and Ferenc Puskas (242).
Simply. Stunning. @Benzema!! ⚡️⚪️????#AthleticRealMadrid#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/divyMj67Ue
— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) January 21, 2023
Only Cristiano Ronaldo (450) has ever scored more goals for Real Madrid, with Benzema having reached 25+ goals in all competitions in eight different seasons.
Real Madrid’s record assist provider (165)
Benzema holds the record for the most assists in Real Madrid’s history, having created 165 goals during his time with the club.
The Frenchman was renowned as a selfless presence when leading the line and helped facilitate Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-breaking return of goals when the two were team-mates in the Spanish capital.
????️WESOME ASSISTS x @Benzema ???? #GraciasKarim pic.twitter.com/8dfdu4BtZF
— Real Madrid C.F. ???????????????? (@realmadriden) June 4, 2023
Benzema and Ronaldo rank as Real Madrid’s top two goalscorers and top two assist providers, having been signed in the same transfer window in 2009. That is certainly success in the market.
Fourth highest La Liga goalscorer (238)
Just three players have ever scored more La Liga goals than Benzema, an incredible statistic for a footballer signed from a foreign league.
Benzema arrived as a promising talent from Lyon, before evolving into one of world football’s finest forwards in Spain. He scored 238 league goals for Real Madrid, with only Lionel Messi (474), Cristiano Ronaldo (311) and Telmo Zarra (251) having scored more.
Fourth highest Champions League goalscorer (90)
Benzema also ranks fourth when it comes to Champions League goals, having netted 90 goals in the competition.
The usual suspects of Cristiano Ronaldo (140) and Lionel Messi (129) lead the rankings, with Robert Lewandowski just ahead of Benzema (91).
Benzema scored 12 goals in 19 appearances for Lyon in the Champions League, before scoring 78 times in the competition after his move to Madrid.
Benzema in the knockouts ????@Benzema || #UCL pic.twitter.com/XuLm6Vvjy5
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 10, 2023
He scored the opener in the 2018 final win over Liverpool and top-scored with 15 goals during Real Madrid’s run to success in 2021/22. His 10 goals in the knockout rounds alone was the club’s joint-highest in a single season, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo (2016/17).
Fifth for Real Madrid appearances (647)
To wear the all-white kit of Real Madrid is often cited as one of football’s greatest honours and just four players have represented the Spaniards on more occasions than Benzema.
Raul (741) leads the way and is followed by Iker Casillas, Manolo Sanchis and Sergio Ramos. No foreign player has made more appearances in all competitions (647) or La Liga appearances (439) for Real Madrid than Benzema. He is the only non-Spanish player in the all-time top 10.
Ballon d’Or winner (2022)
The Ballon d’Or remains football’s greatest individual honour and Real Madrid take more pride than most from their players being crowned the world’s best.
Benzema became the eighth player to win the award while representing the Spanish side in 2022. His recognition came after an iconic individual season that saw Benzema score 44 goals and provide 15 assists in all competitions, as Real Madrid won a La Liga and Champions League double.
???? @Benzema ????
???? 25 trophies
1️⃣ Ballon d’Or
???? 14 seasons#GraciasKarim pic.twitter.com/Xz8TPKegLP— Real Madrid C.F. ???????????????? (@realmadriden) June 6, 2023
His performances in the latter competition made Benzema a fitting winner of the Ballon d’Or, after consecutive knockout round hat-tricks against PSG and Chelsea and a crucial role in the semi-final win over Manchester City.
Benzema became the fifth Frenchman to claim the prize, after Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin and Zinedine Zidane.
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