Champions League Semi-Finals: Karim Benzema BIG RECORD- Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema continues to add to his legendary status in the UEFA Champions League. Follow Champions League Semi-Finals updates on InsideSport.IN
Champions League Semi-Finals: Karim Benzema creates BIG RECORD by scoring against Manchester City, equals Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski’s numbers – Check How?
His goal at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium against Manchester City moved him level with Robert Lewandowski’s tally of 86 goals. The Madridista equals the Polish marksman as the third-highest goal scorer in European Cup history. Ahead of them on the list sit Cristiano Ronaldo (141) and Lionel Messi (125). The Frenchman also equalled Ronaldo’s record for the most knockout goals in a single Champions League campaign. Benzema’s extra-time penalty winner against City on Wednesday was his 10th goal in the knockouts of UCL this season.
Champions League Semi-Finals: Benzema has recorded his best personal tally this season, with 15 goals. Five came in the Group Stage, while the remaining ten have arrived in an incredible knock-out phase run which has seen him score in five successive games against PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Benzema has found the back of the net in the Champions League for 17 consecutive seasons. His first came back in 2005/06 against Rosenborg while playing for Olympique Lyon, where he scored a total of 12 times. The other 74 goals have come in a Real Madrid jersey. He opened his European account for the team with a strike against Milan on 3 November 2009. His favourite opposition in the competition are Galatasaray, PSG and Chelsea, hitting five goals against all of them.
Champions League Semi-Finals: Karim Benzema creates BIG RECORD by scoring against Manchester City, equals Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski’s numbers – Check How?
5 things you may not know about Karim Benzema
He scored the fastest goal in El Clasico history
Benzema took just 22 seconds to score in a LaLiga Santander match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona in December 2011, making him the fastest-ever goalscorer in the history of the greatest game in club football. Since 2009 he’s scored 11 times against his side’s biggest rivals, ranking him fourth on the active goal scorers ranking behind Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suárez.
He’s one of the three all-time top Champions League goal scorers
The Frenchman has a very impressive 85 goals to his name from 1His goal at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium against Manchester City moved him level with Robert Lewandowski’s tally of 86 goals. The Madridista equals the Polish marksman as the third-highest goal scorer in European Cup history. Ahead of them on the list sit Cristiano Ronaldo (141) and Lionel Messi (125).
He could have played for Algeria
Born in France but of Algerian descent, Benzema could have played for the Algerian national team. In fact, the Algerian football federation is known to have tried to convince him when he was making a name for himself. He chose France and has 94 caps for Les Bleus, after returning in June 2021 after almost six years out of the national team.
A film was made about his life
‘Le K Benzema’ was released in 2017 and charted his rise through the ranks at Lyon and to global stardom at Real Madrid, featuring interviews with his parents, friends and teammates. The film also opened up on his friendship with French rapper Booba and his close relationship with coach Zinedine Zidane.
He has eight siblings, some of which are also footballers
Benzema comes from a big family. In total, he has eight siblings – three brothers and five sisters. The Real Madrid star is the third youngest of the family, while his two younger brothers – Gressy and Sabri – have also made a career for themselves in football, although not quite at the same heights as Karim.
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