Who is Karim Benzema, the footballer who worries France?

Speaking to RMC Sport, these internal sources alluded to controversial situations involving Benzema, such as his refusal to sing the Marseillaise in matches against France or his ‘conversion’ on social media ‘to the Muslim religion’.

Another example is Benzema’s support for Russian fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov, who published a message wishing “that the Almighty would reject this nonsense” of Emmanuel Macron and “of all his followers who, in the name of freedom of expression, insult the faith” would damage. of more than 1.5 billion Muslims.”

Karim’s career

Benzema, 35, started his career at Olympique Lyonnais, where he won the Ligue 1 and French Super Cup four times, and the French Cup once.

The striker signed for Real Madrid in 2009 in a summer that also saw Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká and Xabi Alonso come to the white club. With the Merengues he won all possible titles: 5 Champions Leagues and Club World Cups, 4 Spanish Leagues, European Super Cups and Spanish Super Cups, as well as 3 King’s Cups.

In 2022 he won the Golden Ball.

With the French national team Due to ongoing disagreements with coach Didier Deschamps, he played only 97 matches before ending his international career in 2022. Moreover, the ‘cat’ did not become world champion in 2018 with ‘Les Bleus’ in Russia

“Cat” scandals

In 2015, he was expelled from the France team for being involved in a case of sexual blackmail, of which his teammate Mathieu Valbuena was the victim.

The Frenchman was sentenced six years later to a year in prison with probation and a fine of 75,000 euros after being found guilty of complicity in the attempted blackmail with a video with sexual content against Mathieu Valbuena.

Another incident occurred in 2010 when Benzema and some of his associates were charged and later acquitted after being accused of using the services of an underage sex worker.