Call him "Benzeman".
The nickname was attached to him by the daily Marca one evening in December 2010 after a hat-trick against AJ Auxerre in the Champions League.
Ten years later, against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Wednesday night, Karim Benzema almost did it again, settling for a brace for a 2-0 success which propelled Real Madrid into the knockout stages of “his” European Cup (won at 13 times, a record).
Between these performances, the French striker has changed a lot.
From the height of his 32 years, the former Lyon has expanded his record with four successes in the Champions League (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018) and his personal goal counter in the competition, which now stands at 69 units (12 with Olympique Lyonnais, 57 at Real).
A total that places Benzema in the top 5 of the best scorers in the history of C1, far behind the monsters Cristiano Ronaldo (135) and Lionel Messi (118).
But only two goals from Robert Lewandowski and another Madrid legend, Raul (71).
The consistency of Benzema and Real Madrid in the competition allows the kid from Bron (on the outskirts of Lyon) to surpass big names in world football like Andrei Shevchenko or Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Era el día, era la hora, era el momento.
¡Somos el @realmadrid!
This was the day, the moment, the time.
We are #RealMadrid!
Congrats on the brace, @Benzema !! # HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/074gVpsGMT
- Sergio Ramos (@SergioRamos) December 9, 2020
"What Karim does, it does not impress me ... Well, it still impresses me, but I am not surprised by what he does, loose his trainer Zinedine Zidane at the microphone of the Spanish channel Movistar after the meeting Wednesday.
I don't even know what he is anymore, if he's a striker, a number 10, a 9 and a half… He does so much on the pitch that it's wonderful to see him like that.
"
"I go there season after season"
This season, Benzema is playing his 16th Champions League campaign in a row.
His big debut dates back to December 6, 2005 with OL against Rosenborg (2-1).
Match during which he opened the scoring.
The 2007-2008 season in Lyon is Benzema's first big career in C1, like a superb goal scored in the round of 16 against Manchester United.
An achievement that has toured the world and attracted the biggest clubs.
Since 2007-2008, the French international (81 caps) has played 7 to 13 Champions League matches per season.
A balance sheet to which must be added 4 to 7 goals per exercise.
The only exception: his first year at Real, concluded with an elimination in the round of 16 against… Lyon and with five matches for a single goal.
Over the years, Benzema has gained weight in Madrid.
After Cristiano Ronaldo left for Juventus Turin in the summer of 2018, the center forward even became the sole leader of the Madrid attack.
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Here he is once again qualified in the round of 16 of a competition he loves.
For what future?
His contract with Real ends in June 2022 and discussions around an extension exist.
"I do not know until when I will be at a high level, I go there season after season, he confided last October on Spanish television.
I have a contract until 2022 and we will see… Of course, I will always leave the door of my house open in Florentino (
Editor's note: Pérez, president of Real
) ”.