Happy 20th Birthday, Karim Benzema

By: Laurie | December 19th, 2007

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:

Benzema compilation
Uploaded by davdav72

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Category: Europe, French Ligue 1, World Football

Tags: Benzema, Europe, france, French Ligue 1, Lyon, Olympique Lyonnais, World Football, zidane

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Comments  

• Gianfranco |  December 19th, 2007 at 6:33 am

  
  
  

  Maybe for his birthday he will get transfered to MILAN!

  Posted from United States

  

• Inara |  December 19th, 2007 at 6:57 am

  
  
  

  ^^

  Haha.

  Only if Kaka comes the other way.

  Posted from United States

  

• Corey |  December 19th, 2007 at 7:01 am

  
  
  

  happy birthday karim

  Posted from United States

  

• Inara |  December 19th, 2007 at 7:09 am

  
  
  

  What’s amazing about that compilation is that those are only his Lyon goals from August to mid-October this year.

  Posted from United States

  

• lefutur |  December 19th, 2007 at 7:57 am

  
  
  

  the crazy thing is that i wouldn’t even prefer to have kaka.

  Posted from United States

  

• Ben Zema Fan |  January 3rd, 2008 at 2:26 pm

  
  
  

  Happy Birthday, Karim! Go to Aresnal for your next one!

  Posted from United States

  

• mifta |  February 20th, 2008 at 3:36 am

  
  
  

  i think BENZEMA is the mastt striker in the world in this moment and he can stay at dhe lyon

  Posted from Serbia And Montenegro

  

• Tazmin |  March 17th, 2008 at 4:46 am

  
  
  

  OHH, I THINK KARIM WILL HAVE A VERY PLEASUREFUL BIRTHDAY PREZZIE TONIGHT! AHEM AHEM…..LOL NAA MA8 HES HOT!!

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

• Tazmin |  March 17th, 2008 at 4:47 am

  
  
  

  JUS IMAGINE HE COMES TO LIVERPOOL, TORRES AND BENZEMA UP FRONT !!! SICK LINE UP!!!

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

• maleka |  March 20th, 2008 at 3:06 pm

  
  
  

  Benzima wonderful and very high skills and ataliq and better than playing in lyon

  Posted from United States

  

• andro |  March 24th, 2008 at 3:01 pm

  
  
  

  How tom? I want you to giveme an email serviceis run karim Benzima helpme wish that I….

  Posted from Saudi Arabia

  

Comments are closed