How Karim Benzema redeemed himself at Real Madrid

The 2017/18 season was a difficult one for Real Madrid. They triumphed in the Champions League, but the campaign was marred with struggles for form and general underperformance.

The side limped to a third-place finish in LaLiga, in a league run that saw them stutter at times and humiliated at others.

Amongst those that really struggled during that season was Karim Benzema. The Frenchman was often one of the first names that was dragged through the media, called out by fans and trashed by pundits.

Come the end of the season, despite scoring in the final, his Real career seemed to be at an all-time low. His contribution of 12 goals and 11 assists in all competitions remains his lowest after his debut campaign.

Questions over his future at the club were louder than ever – it truly looked as if the combination of his poor form and the purple patch that Alvaro Morata had enjoyed spelled the end for Benzema.

After Cristiano Ronaldo departed the club in 2018, the outcry against Benzema grew further. Madridista questioned how could the club rely on a player who scored just five league goals the previous season?

Pérez and the board responded with the purchase of Mariano Diaz, who had enjoyed an impressive campaign in France, as the club placed their trust in Gareth Bale – who many thought would shine having been freed from the shadow of CR7.

Karim Benzema was Real Madrid’s saving grace in 2018-19

Match-day one of 2018/19 rolled around, Los Blancos were hosting Getafe, which ended 2-0 courtesy of a Gareth Bale goal and assist. The assumption that the Welshman would be the one to lead the charge for Real had seemingly been confirmed.

However, Benzema then scored back-to-back braces in the next two league games to suddenly remind fans that he can still contribute. Whilst he would again endure a quiet few games, then the goals began to flow again – six goals and assists between match-days 9 to 17 quickly started to shift the narrative on Benzema.

Again, from match-day 21 through to 33, Real’s number nine contributed 17 goals during the run-in for Los Blancos. Come the end of the campaign, he had scored 30 and assisted 11 in 53 games for the club, the biggest return within the squad by some way.

Despite Real slipping to a disappointing campaign, the striker could keep his head held high – when the doubters were certainly at their loudest, he fired back in emphatic fashion. Something he would continue to do for the next two seasons, however, he would be seen to drag the club seemingly on his back through that time.

Since the 18/19 campaign, he has often seen himself way ahead when it came to producing for the team. In fact, until this season after the emergence of Vinicius Jr, Benzema has had next to no help.

Up until the start of 21/22, Benzema has scored or assisted a total of 115 goals, the player in second place? Luka Modric with 37. In short, the French international has stepped up to be the leading light for Real.

‘Karim, Ballon d’Or’

Through his sheer brilliant form, his ability to create and score – Benzema has written his very own redemption arc. Through his stint at the Bernabéu, he has gone from underrated and under-appreciated to overrated and hated and finally to respected and recognised.

He has gone from the silent operator who sacrificed his game for the betterment of his team, to being a superstar within his own right – punching his way through to being at the very forefront of Europe.

This season, he is second only to Mohamed Salah for goals contributed, in 2021, his 44 goals for club and country is his best tally in a decade. His impressive form saw him make his return to France after exile, through to being just short of a Ballon d’Or podium finish.

In Real’s most recent game, it was once again a Benzema goal that saw them take all three points against Marcelino’s determined Athletic Club. Over 50% of Real’s goals this season have come from being scored or assisted by Karim.

Fittingly, as he wheeled away in celebration after dispatching the ball past Unai Simon and into the net, the crowd chanted ‘Karim, Ballon d’or’ – a change from when they once whistled and jeered his every touch just three years ago, a superstar reborn, a legacy rewritten, a legend redeemed.