Karim Benzema biography, parents, siblings, salary, transfer, girlfriend, blackmail, net worth

<< Back

Edit Mode: Karim Benzema

Email *

If we need to contact you, we will contact you on this email.

Full Name *

Your name please so that we can credit your work.

Main Text *

<h2>Early Life and Family Background</h2>
<p><a href="/biography/karim-benzema">Karim Mostafa Benzema</a> was born on December 19, 1987, in Lyon, France, into a middle-class Muslim family of Algerian descent. He is the sixth of eight children and grew up in the Lyon suburb of Bron. His younger brothers, Gressy and Sabri, also pursued professional football careers. Benzema began playing football at the age of eight with the local club Bron Terraillon SC, where he quickly displayed noticeable speed and ball control.</p>

<h2>Youth Development at Olympique Lyonnais</h2>
<p>Benzema's talent caught the attention of Olympique Lyonnais after he scored twice in an under-10 match against their youth academy. Lyon officials approached him shortly thereafter, and in 1996, with the approval of Bron Terraillon, he joined Lyon’s academy. Within the club's youth setup, Benzema earned praise for his technical skill and dedication. Known for his discipline and humility, he built a reputation as both a tenacious student and a promising forward.</p>

<p>At the under-16 level, Benzema excelled by scoring 38 goals in the Championnat National des 16 ans. He subsequently joined Lyon's reserve team in the Championnat de France Amateur, helping them secure second place in their group. In December 2004, he made his professional debut for Lyon as a substitute in a match that resulted in a resounding victory. That same season, Benzema made six league appearances as Lyon clinched the Ligue 1 title. He also participated in the UEFA Champions League and featured in the 2006 Trophée des Champions against Paris Saint-Germain.</p>

<h2>Rise with Lyon and Move to Real Madrid</h2>
<p>During the 2007–08 season, Benzema emerged as a key player for Lyon, scoring six goals in as many matches in the Coupe de France and helping the club secure a domestic double. His standout performances, including being Ligue 1's top scorer, earned him the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award. In March 2008, he extended his contract with Lyon, becoming the highest-paid footballer in France at the time.</p>

<p>On July 1, 2009, Benzema transferred to Spanish giants Real Madrid for €35 million. He made his debut on July 20 against Irish side Shamrock Rovers and scored his first goal for the club a month later in a 5–0 victory over Xerez. Shortly after, he netted his first double in a 3–0 win at home. Benzema's Champions League debut for Madrid came on September 30 against Marseille, during which he assisted <a href="/biography/cristiano-ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo</a>’s goal.</p>

<p>The following month, Benzema opened the scoring against AC Milan in a Champions League match, though the goal was later canceled out by a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronaldinho">Ronaldinho</a> penalty. On November 7, in the derby against Atlético Madrid, he assisted <a href="/biography/marcelo">Marcelo</a>’s goal, contributing to a 3–2 victory for Real Madrid.</p>

[page-break]

<h2>Controversies and Legal Issues</h2>
<p>On April 18, 2010, the French television channel M6 reported that four members of the French national team were under investigation regarding alleged involvement with a prostitution ring operating in a Paris nightclub. Initially, it was claimed that some of the women involved could have been underage. The players named were <a href="/biography/franck-ribery">Franck Ribéry</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Govou">Sidney Govou</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatem_Ben_Arfa">Hatem Ben Arfa</a>, and Karim Benzema. Benzema was alleged to have had relations with an escort identified as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zahia_Dehar">Zahia Dehar</a>, who was 16 at the time. He denied the allegations through his lawyer. On July 20, he was formally questioned and indicted for "solicitation of a minor prostitute." In November 2011, prosecutors recommended dropping the case against Benzema and <a href="/biography/franck-ribery">Ribéry</a>, arguing that the players were unaware of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zahia_Dehar">Dehar</a>’s age. Nonetheless, the case proceeded to a court hearing scheduled for June 2013.</p>

<h2>Involvement in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathieu_Valbuena">Mathieu Valbuena</a> Case</h2>
<p>On November 4, 2015, Benzema was arrested by French police in connection with an alleged blackmail scheme involving his national teammate <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathieu_Valbuena">Mathieu Valbuena</a>. The investigation, which focused on a purported attempt to extort <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathieu_Valbuena">Valbuena</a> over a compromising video, drew widespread attention. French <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Valls">Prime Minister</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Valls">Manuel Valls</a> remarked that prominent athletes carry the burden of exemplary behavior due to their public influence and the inspiration they provide to youth.</p>

Source *

Source you received the information from. eg. personal experiences, acquaintances, web-links, etc

Comment *

Briefly describe the changes you made.

Warning! All fields are required. Empty fields won't allow the form to be submitted and your changes will be lost.
Once the changes are submitted they cannot be edited again until your submission is reviewed.