Karim Benzema
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Karim Benzema and a tale of unlikely heroism

Najam Arfeen·
Real Madrid
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Real Madrid’s season has been littered with disappointment – but Karim Benzema continues to rise above the rest…

Few players in the footballing world can divide opinion like Karim Benzema. The Frenchman has been a mainstay in one of Real Madrid’s most decorated sides; a tremendous feat given the club’s illustrious history. In fact, he’s one of the longest-serving members of the current squad, preceded only by Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, and Nacho Fernández. Many feel he hasn’t justified this heightened importance through his performances over the last couple of seasons, while others see him as indispensable to the team’s style of play – but what is it about him that leads to such contrasting perceptions?

The answer lies somewhere between Benzema’s designated role in the team and his natural progression as a footballer. Back in 2009, Big Benz was one of Florentino Pérez’s marquee signings upon returning to the presidential hot-seat. He had established himself as one of Europe’s premier talents with his performances at Lyon, and was being labelled ‘the most complete forward in the world’ at the tender age of 21. It was as if his career trajectory had already been laid out for him – as is often the case in football and life in general – but there was more to the Frenchman’s story.

The cat emerges

After a disappointing first season, Benzema found himself miles behind Gonzalo Higuaín in the pecking order. He was struggling to impress José Mourinho – who infamously bemoaned his lack of hunting options by referring to the striker as a “cat” in an interview. The Portuguese tactician couldn’t have labelled him lazy and incompetent more tacitly. As if by fate, Higuaín was forced to go under the knife after a serious injury, and the stage was set for KB9 to assume the mantle.

It took the arrival of Emmanuel Adebayor in the winter transfer window to really spur the Frenchman’s resurgence, but it came nonetheless. A vastly improved goal tally after the turn of the season, including crucial strikes in both domestic and continental competitions, meant that the shackles had truly come off. Karim Benzema had finally arrived.

The forward continued to go from strength to strength in 2011/12, displacing Higuaín as Mourinho’s first-choice striker and truly quashing any feline associations. By the end of the season, Benzema had amassed 32 goals – and while the figures dropped to just 20 goals the following season, it was enough for him to force an exit for his Argentinian rival.

The move drew widespread criticism from those who felt Higuaín’s clinical approach was irreplaceable, but a significant chunk of that disappointment was rooted in nostalgia rather than quantifiable achievements. Karim Benzema offered better technique, fluid link-up play, and a big-game presence – but most importantly, he had earned the admiration of Florentino and the dressing room.

By all means, Benzema never looked back. An underwhelming 2012/13 season led to Mourinho’s departure from the club and his successor, Carlo Ancelotti, only elevated the Frenchman’s significance in the line-up. He was seen as the ideal striker to complement Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale in Madrid’s newly-formed BBC trident – showing a willingness to drop back and feed the explosive wingers.

The club enjoyed an extremely successful campaign, bringing home La Décima and narrowly missing out on their first-ever treble. Benzema chipped in with 24 goals, many of which were invaluable on the road to glory. He followed that tally up with 22 the following season, but it wasn’t enough to save Ancelotti’s head from the managerial guillotine. A season which saw the side break its all-time record for consecutive victories somehow ended trophy-less and Il Mister faced Florentino’s wrath – much to the fans’ disapproval.

Perhaps what made the decision more infuriating was the arrival of Rafa Benítez in his stead. Nonetheless, KB9 enjoyed a prolific six months under the Spaniard – feeding off multiple lopsided wins in La Liga, including a 10-2 drubbing of Rayo Vallecano. After Rafa’s inevitable departure, Zinedine Zidane entered the fray and managed to turn the season around by guiding Real Madrid to an 11th Champions League title. Meanwhile, Benzema ended the season with his best figures for the club, amassing 28 goals from 36 appearances in all competitions.

Trouble brewing?

As Zizou began preparing for his first full season in charge, the number 9 was expected to put up similar numbers – but things didn’t quite go according to plan. Benzema managed a paltry 19 goals all season, saving himself from further vilification with a string of key late-season performances in Europe as Madrid retained the Champions League. In the league, however, his output was admittedly sub-par as Álvaro Morata outscored him despite the latter’s deputising role.

It was expected to be a minor blip, but the problems only worsened. Benzema scored only five times during the entire 2017/18 La Liga season, and with Morata no longer at the club, there was nobody to cushion his fall. His conversion rate reached an all-time low and he added significant screen-time to a compilation of his worst misses. Even so, Zidane showed little concern over his striker’s dire form – leaving fans scratching their heads. In one interview, the Madrid manager came to Benzema’s defence by claiming, “People who like football have to like Benzema.” It was a bold statement, but not entirely unfounded at its core.

In fact, the point of glossing over the club’s previous managers is to emphasise that they all maintained this belief. The reasons for his declining efficiency also extended beyond the surface, with the team as a whole suffering in front of goal over the last couple of seasons. Even Ronaldo, who finished both seasons with 40+ strikes in all competitions, was unable to find the back of the net for uncomfortably long stretches. It was a systemic failure – and Benzema’s woeful finishing was amplified by an already withdrawn role on the pitch. He still popped up with crucial goals, most notably on the way to Madrid’s third successive Champions League title, but his plummeting numbers deserved a closer look.

Adopting a 4-4-2 formation disproportionately affected Karim Benzema, who now spent the vast majority of his time drawing defenders out wide to open space for Ronaldo to exploit. It was a role he’d been accustomed to for some time, but the BBC was shortened to BC due to Bale‘s injury troubles and Ronaldo transitioned into a more conventional striker – adding to Benzema’s existing grunt work. For his detractors, these were nothing but excuses for a player in decline, but he’s gone some way to proving them wrong with a stark improvement in his performances since Ronaldo’s departure.

Rise and shine, Karim

Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari both fared poorly in their short stints at the helm but they’ll have no complaints over their star striker – who’s been a bright spot in an otherwise torrid 2018/19. Benzema has stepped out of Ronaldo’s shadow (to the extent possible) and had one of his best spells for the club on a personal level. It may have meant little in terms of collective success, but Zidane’s return as coach means his contributions won’t go unnoticed.

The team is likely to see major changes over the summer and signing a big-name striker isn’t out of the question. However, a dearth of available options means that Benzema could be leading the line once more. If so, he’ll undoubtedly relish the chance to assert himself around new teammates and highlight his status as a club legend. As Madrid’s sixth all-time top scorer, Benzema finds himself among names like Raúl, Di Stéfano, and Puskás – all of whom are footballing royalty. Cristiano Ronaldo, sitting pretty at the top of the list, also owes a significant chunk of his monstrous tally to KB9’s selflessness.

More impressively, Benzema recently became the fourth player to cross 60 goals in the UEFA Champions League, reflecting his immense contribution to Real Madrid’s success on the European stage. Maybe using goal-scoring numbers to illustrate the quality of a player who offers so much more is counter-intuitive – but it’s also a necessary evil when justifying his importance to the club.

The Frenchman’s timely heroics over the last ten years cannot and should not be undermined due to a slump, and Bernabéu faithful need to move past their incessant need to chastise club icons. Karim Benzema has been a vital cog in Real Madrid’s machine and will continue to be, meriting respect at the minimum if not adoration. Moreover, his experience will prove invaluable when it comes to nurturing talent – as it has with Vinícius Júnior – and Zidane is unlikely to entertain the thought of parting with a player he openly cherishes.