It was recently announced that Karim Benzema has left Real Madrid after 14 years at the club to join Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
The French forward has been a staple at the Bernabeu since his arrival, and leaves as the club’s second all-time top goal scorer behind Cristiano Ronaldo.
We took a look back at some of Benzema’s finest moments at Madrid, as he goes down as one of their best ever players with 25 trophies and 354 goals to his name.
Champions League top scorer 2021/22
Arguably Benzema’s best ever season as footballer came in the 2021/22 campaign where he was particularly ruthless in front of goal in the UEFA Champions League.
The French forward found the back of the net 15 times in just 12 appearances for Madrid, but still sits at second place in the most goals scored in one European campaign behind Cristiano Ronaldo in 2013/14.
Skipper for Real Madrid, 2021
Sergio Ramos left Real Madrid in 2021 to join Paris Saint-German, meaning that the captaincy at Madrid was up for grabs.
Benzema stepped up to the plate and led his side to a UEFA Champions League trophy in his first season with the armband.
Panenka penalty against Manchester City, 2022
Manchester City looked like they had booked themselves a place in the UEFA Champions League final in 2022, but Real Madrid produced a memorable comeback to knock Pep Guardiola’s side out of the competition.
Benzema produced one of the most audacious moments of his career in the first leg, chipping in from the penalty spot and flooring Ederson before he once again fired home from the spot in the second leg to book Real Madrid’s place in the final.
Bicycle kick v Ajax, 2012
In 2012, Real Madrid beat Ajax 4-1 in the UEFA Champions League away from home and although Ronaldo scored a hat-trick that night, it was Benzema’s goal that stole the headlines.
Receiving the ball from the right hand side, the French forward launched himself into the air and thundered a perfectly executed bicycle kick into the top corner.
Ballon d’Or, 2022
Benzema found the back of the net 44 times in all competitions for Madrid during the 2021/22 season, which was enough to earn himself the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.
The goals that Benzema scored in that campaign were vital to the success that Madrid had as they won La Liga, the UEFC Champions League and the Spanish Super Cup.
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