Profile Text
Benzema in 2014, photo by Celso Pupo /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Karim Mostafa Benzema
Place of Birth: Lyon, France
Date of Birth: 19 December, 1987
Ethnicity: Algerian [including Kabyle Berber]
Karim Benzema is a French professional footballer. A striker, he plays for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad. He was previously with Lyon II, Lyon, and Real Madrid, and the France national team.
Karim’s father, Hafid Benzema, was born in the village Tighzert, located in the northern town, Aït Djellil, in Kabylie, Algeria. Karim’s mother, Wahida Djebbara, was born and raised in Lyon; her family originated from Oran. Karim grew up in Bron, an eastern suburb of Lyon. His younger brothers, Gressy and Sabri, are also footballers.
Karim is married to Algerian-born French actress Lyna Khoudri . He has two children with his former partner Chloé de Launay; a son with his former partner Cora Gauthier; and one child with his former partner, American model Jordan Ozuna.
A practising Muslim, Karim observes fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Karim’s paternal grandfather was named Da Lakehal Benzema. He lived in Tighzert, settling in Lyon in the 1950s.