Karim Mostafa Benzema 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal.
The following month, Benzema opened the scoring against AC Milan in a Champions League match, though the goal was later canceled out by a Ronaldinho penalty. On November 7, in the derby against Atlético Madrid, he assisted Marcelo’s goal, contributing to a 3–2 victory for Real Madrid.
| Birth Date: | 19 Dec, 1987 |
| Age: | 32 yrs |
| Occupations: | Association football player |
| Citizenship: | France Algeria |
| Birth Place: | Lyon |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | French association football player of Algerian descent |
| Net Worth 2020: | 40 million |
| Net Worth 2021: | 70 million |
