A grin spreads across Rodrygo’s face. Standing by the training pitch at Valdebebas, he is discussing his Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema, the four-times European Cup winner 13 years his senior who “always talks to me before games” and “helps us a lot, on and off the pitch”, someone “I always try to listen to”, when he is asked: So what’s the best advice he has ever given you? The answer is immediate. “To play the ball to him,” Rodrygo replies. There is laughter, but it is sound advice. “Every time I give him the ball, it works out,” he says. Benzema was also left off the roster for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. [306] Directing his frustration at FFF president Noël Le Graët, Benzema later tweeted: "Mr Le Graët, with all due respect, you've lost an opportunity to remain silent. I've discovered your true face, and this isn't the one that said he appreciated me and wouldn't discuss the subject of team selections!" [307] Lyttleton, Ben (19 May 2009). "Lyon's Karim Benzema tips the title Bordeaux's way". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013 . Retrieved 27 August 2009. Benzema is a former France youth international having earned caps at all levels for which he was eligible, excluding the under-16 team. He is a member of the group, commonly known in France as the Génération 1987, a youth class that produced current internationals Hatem Ben Arfa, Jérémy Ménez and Samir Nasri, alongside himself. [240] Benzema was the last of the four to make his youth international debut under coach Philippe Bergeroo and officially joined the team ahead of the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Championship that was played on home soil. In the competition, he appeared in two matches. On his tournament debut, Benzema scored the opening goal in a 3–1 win over Northern Ireland. [241] His lone other appearance in the competition was in a 1–0 group stage win over Spain as France went on to win the tournament defeated the same team in the final. [242] [243] FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017: List of players: Real Madrid CF" (PDF). FIFA. 30 November 2017. p.5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 December 2017 . Retrieved 23 December 2017.

Ajaccio v. Lyon Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel (in French). 4 March 2006. Archived from the original on 4 June 2013 . Retrieved 7 May 2012. Benzema overtakes Puskas – only Cristiano, Raúl, Di Stefano and Santillana to go..." AS.com. 19 June 2020. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021 . Retrieved 25 September 2021. Mourinho calls on Benzema to wake up". The Times. Malta. 23 August 2010. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023 . Retrieved 6 May 2012.Zidane, sobre Kaká y Benzema: "A los dos meses también yo fui criticado" ". Marca (in Spanish). 1 December 2009. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023 . Retrieved 6 May 2012. a b c "Benzema gives the key to be better". Goaledor. 5 August 2011. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014 . Retrieved 7 May 2012. Led by Benzema, Real Madrid cruises past Rosenborg 4–0 in pre-season". The Canadian Press. 24 August 2009. Archived from the original on 3 September 2009 . Retrieved 26 August 2009. Benzema has found the net against all 35 teams he's faced in LaLiga". Real Madrid CF. 21 April 2021. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021 . Retrieved 4 May 2021.

Real Madrid 4–0 Auxerre". ESPN. 8 December 2010. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012 . Retrieved 8 December 2010. Pellegrini endures miserable return". ESPN. 3 March 2011 . Retrieved 6 May 2012. [ permanent dead link]

Benzema, un Lyon de Olympique" (in French). UEFA. 19 December 2006. Archived from the original on 8 January 2009 . Retrieved 25 June 2009. Ronaldo nets twice in rout". ESPN. 20 September 2009. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012 . Retrieved 6 May 2012. Lyon v. Metz Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel (in French). 15 January 2005. Archived from the original on 4 June 2013 . Retrieved 7 May 2012. Benzema: commemorative jersey to mark him becoming Real Madrid's third all-time top scorer". Real Madrid C.F. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022 . Retrieved 9 March 2022. Real Madrid 5 – 1 FC Basel". BBC Sport. 16 September 2014. Archived from the original on 18 September 2014 . Retrieved 18 September 2014.

On 20 September 2017, Benzema signed a contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2021. [173] Later on 6 March of the following year, Benzema made his 100th UEFA Champions League appearance by playing in the 2–1 win at Parc des Princes against Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of 2017–18 UEFA Champions League round of 16 as Real Madrid progressed to the next round 5–2 on aggregate. [174] [175] Benzema played his 400th match in all competitions for Real Madrid on 31 March in the 3–0 win at Las Palmas, captaining the team and netting the second goal with a penalty. [176] On 1 May, Benzema scored twice in a 2–2 draw against Bayern Munich in the return leg of the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League semi-final, as Real progressed to the final on a 4–3 aggregate. [177] On 26 May, Benzema scored the first goal of the match in 2018 UEFA Champions League Final by intercepting Loris Karius's throw in a 3–1 victory over Liverpool, when Madrid won their third consecutive and 13th overall Champions League title. [178] 2018–2021: Club talisman, third league title and the return of Zidane Rennes v. Lyon Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel (in French). 2 October 2005. Archived from the original on 4 June 2013 . Retrieved 7 May 2012.

Friends

Masterful Madrid take top spot in style". UEFA. 3 November 2010. Archived from the original on 22 June 2018 . Retrieved 6 May 2012.

France – Footballer of the Year". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015 . Retrieved 27 April 2020. Karim Benzema named Champions League player of the season". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023 . Retrieved 31 May 2022. Nice v. Lyon Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionel. 8 February 2009. Archived from the original on 15 April 2009 . Retrieved 25 June 2009.Lyon prove too strong for valiant Steaua". UEFA. 21 October 2008. Archived from the original on 23 December 2008 . Retrieved 25 June 2009. Acta del Partido celebrado el 20 de marzo de 2016, en Madrid"[Minutes of the Match held on 20 March 2016, in Madrid] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation . Retrieved 15 June 2019. [ permanent dead link] In November 2008, Benzema, among several other young players in the team, was accused of being insolent during the team's campaign at the European Championship. The accusation came from international teammate William Gallas who inserted the charge in his autobiography. Though most of Gallas' accusations were directed at Nasri, [276] [277] [278] during the competition, it was reported by newspaper Le Parisien that several of the national team players described Benzema as "arrogant" and that the striker was scolded by midfielder Claude Makélélé following the team's loss to the Netherlands. [279] 2010 World Cup omission Manu de Juan (31 March 2018). "Karim Benzema's 400th game overshadowed by goal drought". AS. Archived from the original on 22 June 2018 . Retrieved 31 March 2018.