Long banned from the France team, the performance of the reclusive striker in Spain for thirteen years only interested purists in France. However, the man with the eternal two features carved on the skull, forged his legend in the biggest club in the world, Real Madrid.
A few days after eliminating Paris Saint-Germain almost single-handedly in the Champions League, he became, on Monday March 14, the top French scorer in history. Now author of 413 goals, he is ahead of other sacred monsters such as Thierry Henry, Zinedine Zidane or Michel Platini… After this record, a new one in his career, the native of Lyon could tackle new records.
HIS RECORDS
France’s top scorer in history
This is his latest record. With his double scored against Mallorca, a few days after a hat-trick against PSG, Karim Benzema is now the top French scorer in history, clubs and selection combined. He is two lengths ahead of world champion Thierry Henry. This historic figure breaks down to 311 goals for Real Madrid, 66 with Olympique Lyonnais and 36 with the France team, which he met again last summer for the Euro.
The most successful Frenchman in history
In football, as in sport in general, it is often said that only the titles remain at the end of a career. And titles, “KB9” has a few (27). From the seven trophies gleaned with Olympique Lyonnais to the twenty with Real Madrid (including 4 Champions Leagues), he does better than any other tricolor player. With the Blues, however, he only has one trophy, acquired last fall during the League of Nations. Greedy and hungry for titles, there is no doubt that the World Cup scheduled for the end of the year in Qatar is a major objective for the player.
The most capped Frenchman in the Champions League
Great players like great meetings. And in football, the Champions League is the queen of competitions. A winner of four big-eared cups, he’s no stranger to the White House’s recent successes in the competition. While he is one of the four top scorers in the history of the C1 (79 goals, only Lewandowski, Messi and Ronaldo do better), he is also the Frenchman who has played the most matches in the Champions League (137) .
THE RECORDS HE IS GOING FOR
Become Real Madrid’s most capped foreign player
Against Paris Saint-Germain, the New started his 500th game for Real Madrid. Only one foreign player has done better in the club: the Brazilian Roberto Carlos. But his record is getting closer. After the victory against Marjoque, Benzema is only 24 appearances away from surpassing this record (524 caps). However, this record cannot be beaten by the end of the season. It could, however, be reached in 2022.
500 – Karim Benzema will make his 500th start for Real Madrid in all competitions, becoming the second foreign player to reach this milestone in club history after Roberto Carlos (524). Legend. #RMAPSG pic.twitter.com/MbVP5f5Di9
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) March 9, 2022
Become the top scorer in the history of the France team
Score another sixteen goals in selection at 34 years old may seem utopian, but remember that it is Karim Benzema. And that his years spent on the ban of the France team whetted his appetite. From the top of his 36 goals in 94 selections, the Madrid player is the fifth top scorer in the history of the France team. In front of him, retirees Michel Platini (41 goals) and Thierry Henry (51) will not move. It is the latter who currently holds the record. His teammates Antoine Griezmann (42) and Olivier Giroud (46) are also within gunshot but could see their numbers swell.