Karim Benzema in Saudi Arabia: Is He Still Elite After 35?
When the news broke that Karim Benzema was leaving Real Madrid for Al Ittihad, plenty of us raised an eyebrow. ...
When the news broke that Karim Benzema was leaving Real Madrid for Al Ittihad, plenty of us raised an eyebrow. Another ageing superstar chasing Saudi money? It felt a bit predictable. Yet here we are in 2024, watching Karim Benzema Saudi Arabia unfold in real time, and the question everyone keeps asking is pretty simple: Is Benzema still elite?
Karim Benzema after 35: The Decision That Raised Eyebrows
It’s funny how quickly opinions shift. One minute he’s lifting the Ballon d’Or and bossing Champions League nights, the next he’s on a plane to Jeddah. For many fans back home in Europe, this move looked like the beginning of the end. Karim Benzema after 35 was supposed to be the twilight years, maybe a gentle retirement at a smaller European club. Instead he chose the Saudi Pro League.
To be fair, the money was ridiculous. But money alone doesn’t explain everything with Benzema. The lad has always been his own man. Perhaps he saw an opportunity to be the main character again rather than sharing the stage with Mbappé. Or maybe he just fancied a new challenge. Either way, the move raised legitimate questions about whether we’d see the same clinical finisher or something a bit more… diminished.
Is Benzema still elite? The doubt was real
Let’s not pretend. When players hit 35, even the great ones start to lose half a yard. The legs don’t quite recover like they used to. You see it with Ronaldo in his own Saudi chapter. So naturally people wondered if Karim Benzema after 35 would be more passenger than protagonist. The early signs, honestly, were a bit mixed.
Benzema Al Ittihad: Life in the Saudi Spotlight
Arriving at Al Ittihad, Benzema walked into a squad that was being built to dominate. They had N’Golo Kanté, they had Fabinho. Suddenly Jeddah had serious pedigree. The expectation was that Benzema would be the final piece. The man to make them Asian champions and Saudi Pro League winners.
What’s been interesting is how he’s adapted. The heat is no joke. The style of football is different too — more direct at times, with massive spaces but also chaotic defending. Karim Benzema Saudi Arabia hasn’t been the smooth transition some predicted. There have been moments where he’s looked every bit the ageing star trying to find rhythm.
And yet. When he’s on it, you still see the intelligence. The way he drops deep, links play, makes clever runs. That football brain hasn’t aged. The body? That’s another conversation entirely.
Benzema Al Ittihad Stats: What the Numbers Actually Say
Let’s get into the Benzema Al Ittihad stats because this is where the debate gets spicy. In his first season he managed over 20 goal contributions despite missing chunks through injury. Not disastrous by any means, but not quite the “he’s carrying the league” narrative either.
Heading into 2024, things looked brighter for a spell. Some lovely finishes, a few assists that reminded you of his Madrid prime. But consistency has been tricky. There are matches where Benzema Al Ittihad stats show him winning duels he would’ve lost three years ago, and others where he’s anonymous for long periods.
The Saudi Pro League is full of these paradoxes. You’ll see him destroy a defence with one weighted pass, then go missing against a well-organised side. It’s not decline exactly. More like selective brilliance. The sort of thing that makes you type “Is Benzema still elite” into Google at 2am.
Karim Benzema 2024: Moments of Magic, Patches of Frustration
Karim Benzema 2024 has given us some proper highlights. That chipped finish against Al Hilal? Ridiculous. The vision to pick out wingers in transition still looks top level. But then you’ll see him labouring in games that matter, and you wonder if the tank is finally running low.
What’s easy to forget is how much he’s had to deal with. New culture, new language (though his French connection with Kanté helps), different training methods, Ramadan football. The lad isn’t just turning up and playing. He’s had to adjust his entire life. That takes more out of you after 35 than people admit.
Benzema Saudi Pro League Impact: Beyond the Goals
Perhaps we’re looking at the wrong metrics. Benzema Saudi Pro League isn’t just about his own numbers. He’s been mentoring younger attackers, helping the side press higher, and generally raising standards. You see it in how Al Ittihad play when he’s fit and motivated.
Still, it’s hard not to compare him to the monster he was at Real Madrid. That player terrified defenders without even trying. This version needs to try. The explosiveness has gone. He compensates with positioning and guile, which works most weeks in the Saudi Pro League but might not cut it against the very best European sides anymore.
And that’s the crux of it, isn’t it? Is Benzema still elite depends entirely on your definition. Elite for the Saudi Pro League? Absolutely. Top five striker in the world? Probably not anymore. There’s no shame in that. Very few players maintain that level past 33, never mind 35.
So… Has He Still Got It?
Here’s my honest take. Karim Benzema after 35 isn’t the same player who dismantled Manchester City in the Champions League. That guy might be gone for good. But the current version is far from finished. There are still flashes of genius that make you smile and shake your head.
The Saudi move has given him a platform to play without the ridiculous pressure of Madrid. He looks like he’s enjoying his football again, even if results haven’t always matched the billing. The injuries haven’t helped his cause either. When fit, he remains their most dangerous attacker by some distance.
Will he drag Al Ittihad to Asian Champions League glory? Can he maintain this level through the next couple of seasons? It’s difficult to say. Football at this age is unpredictable. One bad hamstring and suddenly the conversation changes completely.
What I do know is this: writing off Benzema has always been a dangerous game. The man has made a career out of proving people wrong. Even now, in the desert heat of the Saudi Pro League, that quiet arrogance remains. He still believes he’s one of the best. And on his day, he’s not entirely wrong.
The jury’s still out on whether he’s truly elite in 2024. But he’s certainly not a spent force. Not yet anyway.
