Nicknamed Coco by his childhood friends, Karim Benzema is the son of Hafid and Wahida, who descended from a family of immigrants from Algeria (North Africa). He overcame many problems while growing up in the troubled French neighbourhood of Bron, eastern France. Karim followed dangerous gangs that exposed him to crime as a child. But thanks to his father being a disciplinarian, he stopped his son from having such a life, enrolling him in a Catholic school and making football his ideal focus.
Our Karim Benzema Biography tells you Facts about his Childhood Story, Early Life, Parents, – Hafid Benzema (Father), Wahida Djebbara (Mother), Family Background, Siblings – Brothers (Gressy and Sabri), Wife, Children – Daughter (Melia), Son (Ibrahim) etc.
The analysis of the 2022 Ballon D’or winner, nicknamed ‘Coco’, involves his Boyhood story before fame and many OFF-Pitch little-known facts about him.
Karim Benzema: From Troubled Neighborhood to Football Stardom.
Yes, everyone knows about his goal-poaching abilities, but not many have read Karim Benzema’s Biography, which is quite interesting. Now, without further ado, let us begin.
Karim Benzema Childhood Story – Early Life:
A cute childhood photo of Real Madrid’s Legend, Karim Benzema.
For Biography starters, Karim Benzema was born on 19th December 1987 to his Father, Hafid Benzema, and his Mother, Wahida Djebbara, in the city of Lyon, France.
The Sagittarius-born Benzema came to his family as the sixth son out of nine children born to the marital union between his parents – Hafid and Wahida.
Karim Benzema descended from a family of immigrants from Algeria (North Africa) who got settled in the troubled French neighbourhood of Bron (a commune in the Metropolis of Lyon, eastern France).
Truly, Karim Benzema’s childhood story is filled with growing-up troubles. As a boy, he overcame many problems while growing up.
Following dangerous gangs led to a life that invited him to crime as a kid. It was his father’s discipline that made a big change in his behaviour.
His father was a disciplinarian who instilled great discipline in Karim. He stopped his son from having fun in his troubled neighbourhood.
It was not easy for a family of immigrants to settle in one of Lyon’s most troubled neighbourhoods, the Bron.
His father decided to put him to study in a Catholic school, and from the first moment, he was not well received.
Karim had many problems interacting with other children, given his Algerian origin, which he felt was discriminating.
Back then, he was somewhat chubby and had problems of over-pressure, which did not help. He had problems with being overweight and being bullied by his schoolmates.
But with the passage of time, Benzema changed to be a better person. He became more and more known in the neighbourhood. Karim modified his eating habits and began losing some weight.
Karim Benzema Biography Facts – Career Start:
Benzema started his footballing career at his hometown club of Bron Terraillon, when he was just eight years old.
He was nicknamed as Coco by his friends when he started playing football at a very early age.
Karim started attracting attention from Lyon club officials when he scored two goals at an U-10 match against the Lyon Youth Academy.
He was scouted by Lyon’s officials, and they directly visited him to persuade Bron Terraillon to sell him. Then-club president Serge Santa Cruz refused to sell him.
It was after Lyon’s officials talked to Benzema’s parents that the deal was done. And that was when Benzema served as a ball boy at Lyon’s senior team games.
They did not hesitate to get their services and with nine years old Karim. Benzema served as a ball boy even as he played for their youth team.
The early career years of Karim Benzema.
Karim Benzema Biography Facts – Life at Lyon:
His overweight looks did not prevent him from making a difference. Karim Benzema started an introverted life at Olympique Lyon. He was never used to leaving home.
Young Karim Benzema, before he became famous.
Many criticize him for being a player with a somewhat introverted personality. They did so without knowing his history of not getting close to people. Karim was a quiet and timid person who dealt with homesickness.
Later on, these difficulties forged him into a character, and the result of all this is the current Benzema you know today.
Karim Benzema Biography – Rising to Fame:
The amazing early career years of Karim Benzema.
Benzema was a huge success as a youngster in Lyon. He quickly rose through the youth academy and scored a whopping 32 goals for Lyon’s U-16 team in the U-16 French League.
Even before Karim Benzema was a household name among football lovers, he was already winning titles.
Benzema was a member of the U-17 French football team that clinched their first UEFA European U-17 Championship, held in France in 2004.
He was a part of the team, which consisted of players such as Hatem Ben Arfa, Samir Nasri, and Jeremy Menez. The French U-17 team beat Spain in the final of that tournament with a very late winner from Samir Nasri.
Can you picture Samir Nasri alongside Karim Benzema?
In that tournament, Benzema scored a goal in a 3-1 victory against Northern Ireland.
Karim Benzema Biography Facts – The Fearless Warrior:
When Benzema was drafted into the first team at Lyon, he had to interact with the already established first-team players.
The crop of first-team players Lyon had back then included the likes of Florent Malouda, Sylvain Wiltord, and John Carew.
When Benzema first met these players, he was subjected to jokes by them, which he didn’t find very pleasant. He reacted spontaneously by replying,
“Do not laugh at me… Please remember that I was once a ball boy to you all, but now, I’m here to compete, and take the club’s number 10 shirt, including take your places.”
And he backed his claims. He went on to establish himself as Lyon’s favoured number 9, who wore the ten shirt.
He scored a total of 66 goals in 148 appearances across all competitions before making the switch to Real Madrid. The rest, as they say, is history.
Karim Benzema Family Life:
His parents, Hafid Benzema and Wahida Djebbara Benzema, have Algerian origins, and they are always proud of it. His father, Hafid, was born in Tigzirt, Algeria.
He decided to operate a large family, which resulted in him having nine children (8 boys and one girl). His wife, Wahida, was born and raised in Lyon.
Her family originated from Oran. According to her, ‘Hafid is the police of the home’.
Karim Benzema Parents- Hafid Benzema and Wahida Djebbara Benzema.
The other members of Karim Benzema’s family include Sabri Benzema, Laeticia Benzema, Gressy Benzema, Lydia Benzema, Farid Benzema, Celia Benzema, Da Lakehal Benzema, Sofia Benzema, Nafissa Benzema and Laeticia Benzema.
Karim Benzema Brothers:
His elder brothers took to other careers outside football. It is only his younger brothers who emulated Karim Benzema.
Benzema’s younger brothers, Gressy and Sabri Benzema, are also footballers. Like Karim, Gressy is also a striker who favoured futsal before he started taking an interest in football.
He has also revealed how Karim gives him tips on how to play his game. Gressy often visits Karim and stays with him in Madrid.
Karim Benzema’s brother – Gessy.
While Gressy plays in the French sixth division with Vaulx-le-Velin, Sabri (pictured with Benzema below) plays for the Bron youth academy situated in Bron, his French hometown.
As for Sabri, whom Benzema speaks very highly of, he is a striker too. Karim once said that Sabri was going to be a better player than he himself was.
For that reason alone, Sabri was scouted by both Real Madrid and Olympique Lyon. Good going, Benzema brothers. Both Karim and Sabri are very close.
Karim Benzema Relationships:
Benzema first flirted with Zahia Dehar, a French-Algerian fashion and lingerie designer.
She was 16 but lied she was over 18 when both started dating. Benzema would pay for flight tickets for her to come see him anytime he needed her around him.
After their relationship ended, she offered herself to Frank Ribery while still underage. The consequence of having an affair with an underage went sour when both Benzema and Ribery went on trial in the ‘Zahia affair’.
His relationship with beautiful Jenifer Yael started in 2012. Karim Benzema has reportedly dated her – who is older than him.
He is four years younger. The French singer was 29 years old while Karim was 25 at that time. The couple met while both were on the show and became attracted to one another.
Rihanna has once enjoyed a “special” relationship with Karim Benzema. Their relationship started in 2015. Reports reveal that Rihanna loves him but wants to take things slowly.
This Benzema doesn’t want thanks to his Sagittarius nature. Spanish press revealed that this was why Rihanna broke up with Karim Benzema.
Moreover, she was reportedly still hung up with Chris Brown at the time.
Karim’s relationship with pop superstar Analica Chavez began in August 2015, just after the Real Madrid Legend had ended his relationship with Rihanna.
More on Karim Benzema’s Dating History:
Karim Benzema and Analica Chavez.
She is reportedly known to have dated Raheem Sterling (LW), Memphis Depay and Axel Witsel.
The concept of a footballer going out with another’s ex is not exactly earth-shattering, but Benzema appears to be proud of his partner.
After dating Analica Chavez, Benzema went on with Chloe de Launay. He found her humble and worthy of bearing his kid.
Karim Benzema’s Love Story with Chloe.
Chloe de Launay became pregnant and gave birth to Melia, who became Karim Benzema’s first child and only daughter.
Benzema’s Girlfriend, Chloe and Daughter, Melia.
Karim Benzema’s love for his kid is extraordinary. He is always pictured strolling on the streets with Melia, unlike her mother.
This left many pundits wondering whether he had left her. Rumours finally became true.
Karim Benzema’s Love for Daughter- Little Melia.
Karim Benzema moved on to start a relationship with Cora Gauthier, whom he admired. He couldn’t stand her, as the beautiful girl decided to get her pregnant, and both had a secret marriage in December 2016.
Karim Benzema Love for Cora Gauthier – Untold Story.
Benzema has reportedly become a father for the second time after Cora Gauthier gave birth to a boy on May 25th, 2017. She was helped by her mum and Benzema’s support to the baby, whom they named Ibrahim Home.
Karim Benzema, Cora’s Mum and Little Ibrahim (Son).
This is the Karim Benzema Love Story so far. Karim Benzema’s Love Life is quite similar to that of Anthony Martial, Raheem Sterling and Edinson Cavani. It is very opposite to that of Rashford and Chamberlain.
Karim Benzema Controversies:
In 2010, long before Benzema was arrested for blackmailing national teammate Mathieu Valbuena, he had already been confronted by the legal authorities for a different issue.
Benzema and teammate Franck Ribery were alleged to have paid monies to sleep with his underage flirt, Zahia Dehar–a claim Benzema clearly denied.
The Benzema/Ribery Onslaught- Full Story.
Later, the prosecutors asked the charges against the Real Madrid striker to be dismissed because he was unaware of her age. But the suit still went to trial.
Later on, Benzema went under investigation for allegations that he blackmailed Mathieu Valbuena over a tape that featured Valbuena sleeping with his girlfriend.
This brought lots of issues in the French squad as their then-French coach decided not to take Benzema or Valbuena to Euro 2016 if they could not reconcile their differences. They settled and moved on.
Karim Benzema Biography – Fastest Goal in El Clasico history:
It wasn’t Lionel Messi, and it wasn’t Cristiano Ronaldo. Benzema has scored the fastest goal in the history of El Clasico.
Arguably, it is the biggest match in world football right now, with a host of stars on the show. Benzema has outdone all the big stars of El Classico by scoring the fastest goal in the history of the fixture.
The Story of the Fastest Goal in El Classico.
In 2011, Benzema scored just 21 seconds after kickoff to put Real Madrid ahead, although they lost 3-1 in the end. His record still remains intact.
His Greatest Football Season:
Thanks to his football performances in the 2021/2022 season, the Frenchman was awarded the two greatest honours of the beautiful game.
Benzema won the UEFA Player of the Year and the Ballon d’Or. Without a doubt, he has left a legacy with Real Madrid for the likes of Alvaro Rodriguez and Endrick to follow.
Karim became the fifth French player to have won the Ballon d’Or and also the second-oldest award winner (after Stanley Matthews). Also, in 2022, the Legendary female footballer Alexia Putellas won the female Ballon d’Or for the second time.
