Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema is not just any striker, he is a football legend strutting his stuff for Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League. Known for his silky skills, sharp vision, and ability to play anywhere upfront, Benzema’s legacy is untouchable.

When Ronaldo left Madrid in 2018, Benzema took center stage. He made the La Liga Team of the Season five years straight, snagged La Liga’s Best Player award twice, and took home the Pichichi Trophy in 2022. He also led Real to yet another Champions League title that year, topping the scoring charts before heading to Al-Ittihad in 2023.

Now a Ballon d'Or winner and one of the highest-paid footballers in the world, Benzema is stacking millions on and off the field. With a cool $200 million net worth, this football icon knows how to win people's hearts. 

Benzema's journey kicked off in his hometown club, Bron Terraillon, at just eight years old, where he quickly earned the nickname "Coco.”

• After scoring two goals in an under-10 match against the Lyon youth academy, the biggest club in town took notice.
• He soared through Lyon’s youth ranks, impressing both on the field and off. 
• He even worked as a ballboy for the senior team’s matches while smashing it in school as a "discreet and respectful" student.
• By the time he hit the under-16 level, Benzema was tearing it up, scoring a mind-blowing 38 goals in the Championnat National des 16 and, France’s top under-16 league.
• His success earned him a promotion to Lyon’s reserve team in the 2004–05 season, where he made waves with ten goals in the autumn campaign
• Debuted in 2005 against Metz where he subbed in and assisted a goal in a 2-0 win.
• Helped Lyon secure their fourth straight Ligue 1 title. 
• Would help the team win 3 more trophies before making the move to the European giants Real Madrid.

Benzema’s story starts in Lyon, born to French nationals of Algerian descent.

• His grandfather made the journey from Algeria to Lyon in the 1950s, settling down and setting the stage for Karim’s rise.
• The player's father, Hafid, came from Tigzirt, while his mom, Wahida, was a Lyon native with roots in Oran.
• As the third youngest of nine, Karim grew up in a lively household in the eastern suburb of Bron.
• With two younger brothers following in his football footsteps, Gressy plays in the sixth division of French football, while Sabri sharpens his skills at a youth academy in Bron.
• His love life is also interesting. He had many affairs and relationships. One of them is with Chloe de Launay in 2014, with whom he shares a daughter, Melia.
• After that, he was involved with Cora Gauthier, who gave birth to their son, Ibrahim in 2017.
• By 2022, Benzema was dating American model Jordan Ozuna, who later converted to Islam. The couple has a child together.
• In 2010, the player was caught up in an underage prostitution scandal. However, his charges were dropped in 2014 due to a lack of evidence.