Happy 20th Birthday, Karim Benzema

Every once in awhile, when the camera angle is just right, I look at Karim Benzema and think, Zidane.

It’s not surprising. Both were born to Algerian parents of Kabyle descent, so you might expect them to share the deep-set eyes, the high cheekbones, the strong brow.

But it’s more than that.

It’s the natural way they handle the ball, as if they’re more comfortable with it at their feet than without it. Their composure in front of the goal. Their sixth sense about where their teammates are on the field and what, exactly, they need to do to get the ball to them. Karim is a straight striker, not a midfielder. But on a broader level, with his ability to make things happen on the field, I fully expect him to carry on Zidane’s legacy for France.

And not only that, he comes across as a genuinely nice and unspoiled kid, too. He still lives with his parents, who drove him to practice until last year. When he talks about fame, he uses the phrase “keep my head on my shoulders” so often that you can tell humility has been drummed into him from the time he began to stand out from the other players as a child. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear he still carries out the family garbage.

And this comes from one of the most desired players in the world, who has by my count scored 18 goals — all competitions — this season. (This includes a magical hat trick on my birthday when I was in Metz, France in September for the Metz-Lyon game.)

Happy Birthday, Karim!

Watch some Benzema magic here:

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Category: Europe, French Ligue 1, World Football