Karim Mostafa Benzema (born 19 December 1987) is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad. He is known for his aerial ability, workrate, playmaking and finishing.

Born in Lyon, Benzema began his senior career with hometown club Olympique Lyonnais in 2005, contributing sporadically to three Ligue 1 title wins. In 2008, he was named the National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) Player of the Year and in the Team of the Year as he finished as the league's top goalscorer and won his fourth title and first Coupe de France. In 2009, Benzema was the subject of a then French record association football transfer when signed for Real Madrid in a transfer worth €35 million.

After struggling to establish himself in his debut season, Benzema eventually reached prominence at Real Madrid and has won 13 trophies, including three La Liga titles, two Copas del Rey, and four UEFA Champions League titles, and ranks as the club's fifth all-time top goalscorer, as well as their all-time top assist provider. While at Real Madrid, Benzema has also been named French Player of the Year three times.

A French international, Benzema won the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and made his senior debut for France in 2007, at age 19. He has since earned over 80 caps, including appearing and scoring in three major tournaments: the 2008 and 2012 editions of the UEFA European Championship and the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He scored his first goal in a friendly against Austria, and ranks as his nation's tenth all-time top goalscorer. Benzema was controversially left out of the squad for the 2010 World Cup, and did not play for France for over five years after being implicated in a publicised scandal involving blackmail in 2015, before returning to the squad in time for UEFA Euro 2020.

CLUB

Lyon
Ligue 1: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08
Coupe de France: 2007–08
Trophee des Champions: 2006, 2007

Real Madrid
La Liga: 2011–12, 2016–17, 2019-20, 2021–22
Copa del Rey: 2010–11, 2013–14, 2022–23
Supercopa de Espana: 2012, 2017, 2019–20, 2021–22
UEFA Champions League: 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2021–22
UEFA Super Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022
FIFA Club World Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022

INTERNATIONAL

France U17
UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship: 2004

France
UEFA Nations League: 2020–21
FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2022

INDIVIDUAL

Ballon d'Or:
2022

Marca Leyenda Award:
2023

UEFA Men's Player of the Year:
2021–22

Golden Player Man Award:
2022

Onze d'Or:
2020–21, 2021–22

Bravo Award:
2008

Ligue 1 Top Goalscorer:
2007–08

UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month:
January 2008, April 2008

UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year:
2007–08

UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year:
2007–08

UNFP Best French Player playing Abroad:
2019, 2021, 2022, 2023

Etoile d'Or:
2007–08

FIFA FIFPro World XI Nominee:
2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021

FIFA FIFPro World11 3rd team:
2015, 2017

FIFA FIFPro World11 4th team:
2014, 2016

FIFA FIFPro World11 5th team:
2018

UEFA Champions League top assist provider:
2011–12

La Liga Player of the Month:
October 2014, June 2020, March 2021, September 2021, April 2022

La Liga Player of the Season:
2019–20, 2021–22

French Player of the Year:
2011, 2012, 2014, 2021

Fastest goal in an El Clasico on 10 December 2011 (21 seconds)

Trophees UNFP for Best French Player playing Abroad:
2019, 2021

La Liga Team of the Season:
2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23

UEFA La Liga Team of the Season:
2019–20

Trofeo Alfredo Di Stefano:
2019–20

La Liga Best Player (voted by Marca fans):
2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22

L'Equipe's team of the year: 2020 (Voted by Fans)

ESM Team of the Year:
2020-21

Supercopa de Espana top scorer:
2021–22, 2022–23