Analysis: Inside the enigmatic persona of Karim Benzema

From an Olympique Lyon hometown wonderkind, to a Real Madrid hero alongside Cristiano and Kaka, to a France national team outcast: this is Karim Benzema.

In his teenage years, Benzema seemed primed to be quickly ascending to one of the deadliest and most potent strikers on the planet. Having made 112 appearance and banging in 43 goals for the then invincible in Ligue 1, Lyon, Benzema was already a national treasure and all before his 22^nd birthday.

He was clearly a player brimming with confidence. He was on the field for one thing and one thing only: to score goals. Nothing was going to get in his way, not the opponents, not the referees, not even his own teammates.

Then, in the summer of 2009, he graduated to the next level, a $50 million move to Spanish giant Real Madrid to form a super-team with Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka.

During his first two seasons, the shift from French football to the Spanish style certainly influenced the wide-eyed youngster. Pellegrini and Mourinho’s mantras on football were difficult for Benzema to adjust to and he often saw his appearances come as a substitute.

His performances improved under Ancelotti and subsequently Benitez and with time, he became a mainstay in the lineup as part of BBC with Cristiano and Gareth Bale.

Since Zidane took over in January of 2016, Real Madrid have enjoyed unencumbered European success, and Benzema has quietly thrived in his own role under Zizou’s tutelage.

While still an important piece in the Madrid attack, he has often found success as a super sub off the bench, as was seen in the Champions League semifinal against Bayern Munich.

His shortcomings for the French national team

As fate would have it however, his success at the club level was about to have a sharp contrast with his national team future. Following a very publicized scandal prior to Euro 2016, Didier Deschamps has made it clear that while he remains in charge of the French national team, Benzema will play no part in any national team proceedings.

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And so now we are brought to the present-day Karim Benzema. A 30-year-old striker arguably playing some of his best football, having extended his Real Madrid contract until 2021, and yet absent from the French national team for the upcoming World Cup.

Benzema’s career has not been linear by any means, but his persistence and ability to stay near the top is impressive.

Winning his 4^th Champions League campaign with Madrid yet not to be present in Russia this summer. Is this the result of his own naivete, is it the vengeance of Deschamps, or is there something more?

One day, Madridistas want Benzema immediately sold to the highest bidder, the next they sing his praises down the streets.

Benzema’s case is an enigma. His work ethic has been questioned multiple times, he is linked to outside clubs every transfer window, and he is ostracized from his national team, for which he was once so prolific. But he continues to score and be vital for Madrid’s success despite all the critics and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

What will be made of Benzema’s legacy is yet to be determined, and there will surely be discussions ad nauseam about where the legend of Coco belongs in the annals of footballing history. That being said, there is still plenty of football left in those boots to show the world.

Next: Real Madrid demanding upwards of £200m for star player

If you could sum up Karim Benzema’s career so far in one word, what would it be?

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