Olivier Giroud

Profile Football Stars | Olivier Giroud | After starring for Several clubs in the lower divisions, Giroud secured a move to his current club in August 2010. His performances over two seasons with the club culminated into a call-up to the senior national team. Giroud made his international debut on 11 November 2011 in a match against Belgium. Giroud began his football career playing for his hometown club Olympique Club de Froges. He spent five years training at the club before joining a professional club Grenoble at the age of 13.

Giroud spent six years developing in Grenoble's youth academy before signing his first professional contract at the age of 19. Giroud Quickly Became an Important player in the team scoring 15 goals in 15 matches. Giroud made his professional debut on 24 March Appearing as a late-match substitute in a 1-1 draw with Gueugnon in Ligue 2. The striker was lured to the club by sporting director Max Marty who had Previously served as the chief executive officer of Grenoble, Giroud's former club. A month later , Giroud scored his first goal for the club converting the opener in a league match against Lens. Two weeks later, Giroud scored his third goal for the club in a victory over Ajaccio.

Giroud Officially joined Montpellier on 1 July 2010. He simultaneously made his club and the European debut on 29 July in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League Montpellier's third qualifying round with Hungarian club Győri ETO. In the match, Giroud scored his first goal for the club in the first half. Montpellier won the match courtesy of Giroud's goal, but were Defeated on aggregate after losing on Penalties in the second leg. Giroud made his league debut in the team's first match of the campaign; a 1-0 win over Bordeaux. On 25 September, Giroud scored two goals in a home victory over Arles-Avignon. In November 2010, Giroud scored the game-winning goals in consecutive weeks against Toulouse and Nice. As a result of Giroud's performance and the team as a whole, Montpellier topped the league table in November 2011. In January 2012, Giroud was linked with a transfer to Several clubs.

Prior to representing the national senior team, Giroud did not earn any caps with the national youth teams. On 3 November 2011, in a effort to reward Giroud for his performances domestically with Montpellier, national team coach Laurent Blanc named the striker to the squad to play in friendly matches against the United States and Belgium on 11 and 15 November 2011, respectively. France won the match 1-0. Against Belgium, Giroud earned another cap Appearing as a substitute as the match ended 0-0.  Giroud scored his first career international goal in a 2-1 friendly victory over Germany on 29 February 2012.

Personal information
Full name Olivier Giroud
Date of birth 30 September 1986 (age 25)
Place of birth Chambery, France
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 3 1/2 in)
Playing position Striker

Club information
Current club Montpellier
Number 17

Youth career
1994-1999 Froges
Grenoble 1999-2005

Senior career
years Team
2005-2008 Grenoble 23 (2)
2007-2008 Istres (loan) 33 (14)
Tours 2008-2010 44 (24)
2010-Montpellier 66 (31)
2010 Tours (loan) 17 (6)

National team
2011-France 3 (1)

Honours

Individual
     UNFP Ligue 2 Player of the Year (1): 2009-10
     UNFP Ligue 2 Team of the Year (1): 2009-10
     UNFP Ligue 2 Player of the Month (2): September 2009, November 2009

Demba Ba

Profile Football Stars | Demba Ba | In 2001, his family moved to Chatillon and Ba played for Montrouge. Watford manager Ray Lewington after was sacked in 2005, Ba found That he was not in the first team plans of Aidy Boothroyd, and left the club in March 2005. Ba signed with manager Alain Michel Because They were both moving to French club Rouen on a one year contract, and Ba enjoyed a highly Successful season with the club. Belgian club Mouscron beat off competition from other clubs to win Numerous Ba's signature in 2006. That season he scored in 14 goals, missing only one game all season. These goals included a hat-trick in a 3-3 game against Stuttgart on 24 February 2009. In all competitions Ba scored 40 goals in 103 appearances for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. In December of that year Ba extended his contract at Hoffenheim to 2013.

Ba left Hoffenheim for Reasons disputed in January 2011. Claiming the club had gone back on an Agreed transfer to a Premier League club, believed to be West Ham United, he Refused to travel to Hoffenheim's winter training camp. The club later Agreed to a transfer to Stoke City for a reported fee of £ 7.1 million, but it fell through after Ba had Agreed personal terms but failed his medical for undisclosed Reasons. After the deal collapsed Stoke, Ba was sold to West Ham for an undisclosed fee based on appearances. Ba's Premier League debut came on 6 February 2011, as a 75th minute substitute for Robbie Keane during a 1-0 home defeat by Birmingham City.

On 17 June 2011, Ba signed for Newcastle United on a three-year deal, making his club debut on 13 August 2011 in 0-0 draw against Arsenal. A second hat-trick in a 3-1 came away win at Stoke City, taking his league total to eight and maintaining the club's 11 league games unbeaten start, taking them to 3rd in the league. Ba's goalscoring form continued Despite Newcastle entering a downward spell, and saw him picked in ESPN.com 's Premier League Best XI for the first half of the season, and named Premier League Player of the Month for December 2011. By the time Ba left to play in the international tournament the January 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in his league tally had reached 15, making him second top scorer in the league behind Arsenal's Robin van Persie. While at the tournament, Ba's Senagal team-mate Papiss Cissé also signed for Newcastle.

Ba and Cisse returned Earlier than expected after Senegal finished bottom of Their group, with Ba having missed three games and two Premier League 2011-12 FA Cup games, the second of the which saw Newcastle knocked out of the cup.  He returned to action against Aston Villa on Their visit to St James' Park on 5 February 2012, his return proved to be a goal scoring one as he netted the opener in the which Newcastle won the game 2-1.  Ba was voted as the best signing of the 2011-12 season by Premier League managers in March 2012. Ba has played a total of twelve games for Senegal, scoring five goals. He scored on his debut against Tanzania, in June 2007.

Personal information
Full name Demba Ba
Date of birth 25 May 1985 (age 26)
Place of birth Sèvres, France
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position Striker

Club information
Current club Newcastle United
Number 19

Youth career
1998-2000 Port Autonome du Havre
2000-2001 Frileuse
2001-2004 Montrouge
Watford 2004-2005

Senior career
years Team
Rouen 2005-2006 26 (22)
2006-2007 Mouscron 12 (8)
Hoffenheim 2007-2011 1899 97 (37)
2011 West Ham United 12 (7)
2011-Newcastle United 32 (16)

National team
2007-Senegal 12 (5)

Honours

Club
1899 Hoffenheim

     Bundesliga:
         Runners-up: 2008

Individual
     Premier League Player of the Month: December 2011

Zinedine Zidane

Profile Football Stars | Zinedine Zidane | Zidane is of Kabyle Berber descent. At club level Zidane won the La Liga and the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid, two Serie A league championships with Juventus, an Intercontinental Cup and a UEFA Super Cup each with both the aforementioned sides. He is one of only two players to have been the FIFA World Player of the Year three times (Brazilian striker Ronaldo being the other). He also won the Ballon d'Or in 1998. He retired from professional football after the 2006 World Cup.

At the age of ten, Zidane got his first player's license after joining the team of a local junior club from La Castellane by the name of U.S. Saint-Henri. After spending a year and a half at the U.S. Saint-Henri, Zidane joined SO Septèmes Valons when the Septèmes coach Robert Centenero convinced the club's Director to get Zidane.

Zidane went to Cannes for a six-week stay, but ended up remaining at the club for four years to play at the professional level. Zidane made his professional debut with Cannes on 18 May 1989 at the age of seventeen in a Ligue 1 match against Nantes. After the match during a party for all the players Cannes, Zidane was gifted a car by chairman Alain Pedretti Cannes, who had promised him one the day he scored his first goal for the club.

Zidane was transferred to Girondins de Bordeaux in the 1992-93 season, winning the 1995 Intertoto Cup and finishing runner-up in the 1995-96 UEFA Cup in four years with the club. In 1995, Blackburn Rovers coach Kenny Dalglish had expressed interest in signing both Zidane and Dugarry, to the which team owner Jack Walker reportedly replied, "Why do you want to sign Zidane when we have Tim Sherwood?" In 1996, Zidane moved to the UEFA Champions League winners Juventus for a fee of £ 3.2 million and won the 1996-97 Serie A and the 1996 Intercontinental Cup. Following the season, Zidane netted seven goals in 32 matches in the league to help Juventus win the 1997-98 Serie A and Thus Spake retain the Scudetto. In Europe, Juventus made Their third consecutive UEFA Champions League Final appearance, but lost the game 1-0 to Real Madrid, a club Zidane would later join. However Zidane was named Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year for the second time.

In 2001, Zidane joined Real Madrid for a then world record fee of 150 billion Italian lire (about € 75 million) and signed a four-year contract. He scored a famous match-winning goal, hit a volley with his weaker foot, in Madrid's 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League Final 2002 Completing his personal quadruple. The next season, Zidane helped Real Madrid to win the 2002-03 La Liga and was named the FIFA World Player of the Year for the third time. While Zidane's final season of club football ended trophy-less, he enjoyed success on a personal note recording the maiden hat-trick of his career, Thrice scoring against Sevilla FC in a 4-2 win in January 2006. On 7 May 2006, Zidane, who had his plans to retire Announced after the 2006 World Cup, played his last home match and scored in a 3-3 draw with Villarreal CF. The squad wore shirts with Zidane 2001-2006 Commemorative below the club logo.

Both France and Algeria Zidane Consider a citizen, but he was ineligible to play for the Algerian national team. Before the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final in Berlin, Zidane was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the competition. Following his red card in the final, Zidane retired from professional football, and confirmed That he would not go back on his decision.

Personal information
Full name Zinedine Zidane
Date of birth 23 June 1972 (age 39)
Place of birth Marseille, France
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Midfielder

Youth career
1982-1983 U.S. Saint-Henri
1983-1986 SO Septèmes-les-Vallons
Cannes 1986-1988

Senior career
years Team
Cannes 1988-1992 61 (6)
Bordeaux 1992-1996 139 (28)
Juventus 1996-2001 151 (24)
2001-2006 Real Madrid 155 (37)
Total 506 (96)

National team
1992-2006 France 108 (31)

Honors

Club
    Girondins Bordeaux France
        UEFA Intertoto Cup:
            Winner: 1995
        UEFA Cup:
            Runner-up: 1995-96

    Juventus
        Serie A:
            Winner: 1996-97, 1997-98
            Runner-up: 1999-00, 2000-01
        Supercoppa Italiana:
            Winner: 1997
            Runner-up: 1998
        UEFA Champions League:
            Runner-up: 1996-97, 1997-98
        UEFA Super Cup:
            Winner: 1996
        Intercontinental Cup:
            Winner: 1996
        UEFA Intertoto Cup:
            Winner: 1999

    Real Madrid
        La Liga:
            Winner: 2002-03
            Runner-up: 2004-05, 2005-06
        Supercopa de España:
            Winner: 2001, 2003
        Copa del Rey:
            Runner-up: 2001-02, 2003-04
        UEFA Champions League:
            Winner: 2001-02
        UEFA Super Cup:
            Winner: 2002
        Intercontinental Cup:
            Winner: 2002

Country
    France France
        FIFA World Cup:
            Winner: 1998
            Runner-up: 2006
        UEFA European Football Championship:
            Winner: 2000
            Third Place: 1996
        King Hassan II International Cup Tournament:
            Winner: 1998, 2000
        Tournoi de France:
            Third Place: 1997

Individual
    Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year - 1994
    Ligue 1 Player of the Year - 1996
    Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year - 1997, 2001
    UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year - 1998
    FIFA World Cup Final Man of the Match - 1998
    World Soccer Player of the Year Awards - 1998
    Ballon D'or - 1998
    L'Equipe Champion of Champions - 1998
    French Player of the Year - 1998, 2002
    Onze d'Or - 1998, 2000, 2001
    FIFA World Player of the Year - 1998, 2000, 2003
    FIFA World Cup All-Star Team - 1998, 2006
    ESM Season XI: 1997-98, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04
    World Soccer 100 Greatest Players of the 20th Century - 1999
    UEFA Euro Player of the Tournament - 2000
    UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament - 2000, 2004
    Serie A Footballer of the Year - 2001
    UEFA Team of the Year - 2001, 2002, 2003
    UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match - 2002
    La Liga Best Foreign Player - 2002
    UEFA Club Footballer of the Year - 2002
    FIFA World Cup Dream Team - 2002
    FIFA 100 Greatest Living Footballers - 2004
    UEFA Best European Player of the Past 50 Years - 2004
    FIFPro World XI All-Star Team - 2005, 2006
    IFFHS World's Best Playmaker - 2006
    FIFA World Cup Golden Ball - 2006
    UNFP Honorary Award - 2007
    Marca Leyenda Award - 2008
    Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award - 2011
    UEFA Champions League Best Player of the Past 20 Years - 2011

Order
    Chevalier (Knight) of the Legion d'honneur in 1998, Promoted to Officier (Officer) in  2009

Yann M'Vila

Profile Football Stars | Yann M'Vila | M'Vila began his football career playing for clubs in the Picardy and Île-de-France regions, Such as Amiens SC and Mantes. In 2004, he signed with a professional club Stade Rennes. While in the club's youth academy, he Achieved Several club honors. In 2008, M'Vila turned professional and, in the following season, made his professional debut in a league match against Nice. M'Vila has since Become an integral part of the club under manager Frederic Antonetti. France also played on M'Vila That teams participated in the 2007 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship and the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He is currently playing for both the under-21 team and the senior team. M'Vila made his senior debut on 11 August 2010 in a friendly match against Norway.

After spending five seasons at the club, left M'Vila the club after developing friction and ventured to Paris to join FC Mantes. The Following month, M'Vila Departed Mantes to join the prestigious youth academy of Rennes after signing an aspirant (youth) contract with the club. The combination of M'Vila, Brahimi, Camara, and Le Tallec, all four being members of the class of 1990, were particularly instrumental in their youth team's successes. Two seasons later with the under-18 team, M'Vila won the under-18 league championship for the 2006-07 season.

M'Vila opened the 2011-12 season making his European debut in a UEFA Europa League third qualifying round first leg tie against Georgian club Rustavi metallurgical on 28 July 2011. M'Vila played the entire match in a 5-2 win.

M'Vila has featured for all of France's national youth teams for the which he was eligible beginning with the under-16 team. M'Vila made his only other appearance in the team in the return leg against Romania. M'Vila began featuring international as a regular with the under-17 team making his debut on 5 December 2006 in a friendly match against the Czech Republic. M'Vila scored his first international goal on 20 February 2007 against Portugal in the Algarve Cup. In the competition, scored a goal against M'Vila group stage opponents a 2-2 draw in Ukraine. On 5 August 2010, M'Vila was Officially called up to the senior team for the first time by new manager Laurent Blanc for the team's friendly match against Norway on 11 August 2010. Despite France losing the match 2-1, M'Vila earned rave reviews for his performance, with many media outlets in France naming him the team's player of the match. Following his debut, M'Vila Appeared in five consecutive matches for France. On 2 September 2011, M'Vila scored his first international goal in a 2-1 Euro qualifying victory over Albania.

Personal information
Full name Yann M'Vila
Date of birth 29 June 1990 (age 21)
Place of birth of Amiens, France
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position Defensive midfielder

Club information
Current club Rennes
Number 17

Youth career
1996-1999 Science-Saint-Fussien
Amiens SC 1999-2004
2004 Mantes
2004-2009 Rennes

Senior career
years Team
2009-Rennes 96 (2)

National team
2006 France U16 2 (0)
2006-2007 France U17 14 (2)
2007-2008 France U18 6 (0)
2008-2009 France U19 18 (3)
2009-2011 France U21 8 (0)
2010-France 18 (1)

Honours

Club
Rennes France
     Coupe Gambardella: 2008

Individual
     UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year (1): 2010-11

Frédéric Kanouté

Profile Football Stars | Frédéric Kanouté | In 2000, Kanoute was signed by English Premier League side West Ham United on an initial loan basis. Kanoute was sold to Sevilla on 17 August 2005 for € 6.5 million. Sevilla won 4-0. Kanoute's first games for Sevilla against Tottenham Hotspur led to his scoring a penalty at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in a game marred by crowd trouble, and a goal at White Hart Lane, leaving the final aggregate score 4-3 to Sevilla.

Sevilla's title challenge That year Ultimately unravelled and Real Madrid took the title, with Kanoute's side in third.  Since then, Kanoute has been a consistent, if not explosive, member of the club, Helping Sevilla qualify for a UEFA Cup position in 2008 and a Champions League qualification in 2009 direct. The second yellow was for an altercation Between Kanoute and Cesc Fàbregas, Kanoute after Fabregas reportedly called a terrorist.  While playing for Lyon, Kanoute joined the French under-21 team. After turning 21 in 1998, Kanoute was not called up for the French national squad in 2000, 2002, or 2004.

Although eligible for either, Kanoute elected to play for Mali rather than for France. Kanoute was joint top goal scorer for Mali at the 2004 African Cup of Nations. Kanoute scored four goals in four matches Helping Mali to the semi-finals, where They lost to Morocco. In October 2007, Kanoute, along with Mali international teammate Mamady Sidibe, were attacked by iRate Togolese fans after They knocked Togo out of the African Cup of Nations qualifier. Frederic Kanoute Announced his retirement from international football Following Mali's elimination from the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.

Personal information
Full name Frédéric Oumar Kanoute
Date of birth 2 September 1977 (age 34)
Place of birth Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, France
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Playing position Striker

Club information
Current club Sevilla
Number 12

Senior career
years Team
1997-2000 Lyon 58 (9)
2000-2003 West Ham United 84 (29)
Tottenham Hotspur 2003-2005 60 (14)
2005-Sevilla 202 (87)

National team
1998-2001 France U21 16 (11)
Mali 2004-2010 39 (23)

Honours
Sevilla
     UEFA Cup: 2006, 2007
     Copa del Rey: 2007, 2010
     UEFA Super Cup: 2006
     Supercopa de Espana: 2007

Personal
     African Footballer of the Year: 2007

Éric Abidal

Profile Football Stars | Éric Abidal | Abidal was Trained at Lyon-Duchère, a team playing in the suburbs of Lyon. In the Lyon defense, he played alongside other French internationals (Grégory Coupet, François Clerc, and Anthony Réveillère) and two Brazilian internationals (Cris and Caçapa). On 17 January 2007, Abidal scored the first goal of his career in a 1-0 victory over Le Mans Lyon on a 2006-07 Coupe de la Ligue semi-final match. Barca president Joan Laporta also Mentioned That Abidal's contract would contain a € 90 million release clause, and that 'Lyon would receive an extra € 500,000 if Barcelona win the Champions League in any of the next four seasons.

 

On 5 January 2011, Abidal scored his first goal with Barcelona at the San Mames Stadium in a Copa del Rey match against Athletic Bilbao. On 16 January 2012, Abidal signed a renewed contract keeping him at the Camp Nou until 30 June 2013. He scored his second goal with Barcelona and the winning goal in a 2-1 win over Real Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-final match.

Abidal has earned 60 caps with the French national team, having earned his debut cap on 18 August 2004. Despite Numerous injuries and disagreements with FIFA in the past few seasons, Abidal played on the French team in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, starting at left back and playing every minute of the tournament with the exception of France's match against Togo, from the which he was suspended after earning two yellow cards over the previous two games. Mikael Silvestre filled Abidal's left back slot for that game. When France and Italy were forced into a penalty shootout in the finals, he was placed third in France's five shooters and scored, but since it was a penalty shootout, it is not recognised as a goal, and Abidal has yet to score for France properly .

On 15 March 2011, Barcelona Announced That Abidal was diagnosed with a tumor on his liver. In response to the announcement, players and fans from all alike over the world dedicated well wishes for the ill player on multiple social networking sites and sports websites.  During Barcelona's match against Getafe CF on 19 March, the fans at the stadium clapped for the entire 22nd minute, the which is Abidal's shirt number for Barcelona, as a respectful moment for him. On 28 May 2011, Barcelona beat Manchester United 3-1 to win the Champions League Final. Abidal played the whole game. On 15 March 2012, it was Announced That Abidal would have to undergo a liver transplant Because of his previous liver problems.

Personal information
Full name Éric Abidal Sylvain
Date of birth 11 September 1979 (age 32)
Place of birth Lyon, France
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Defender

Club information
Current club Barcelona
Number 22

Youth career
1999-2000 Lyon Duchère

Senior career
years Team
2000-2002 Monaco 25 (0)
2002-2004 Lille 60 (0)
2004-2007 Lyon 76 (0)
2007-Barcelona 120 (0)

National team
2004-France 61 (0)

Honours

Club

Lyon
     Ligue 1: 3
         2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07
     Trophée des Champions: 3
         2005, 2006, 2007

International
     France
         FIFA World Cup:
             Runner-up: 2006

Barcelona
     La Liga: 3
         2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11
     Copa del Rey: 1
         2008-09
     Supercopa de España: 3
         2009, 2010, 2011
     UEFA Champions League: 2
         2008-09, 2010-11
     UEFA Super Cup: 2
         2009, 2011
     FIFA Club World Cup: 2
         2009, 2011

Individual
     UEFA Team of the Year: 1
         2007
     LFP Defender of the Year Awards: 1
         2011

Gonzalo Higuaín

 

Profile Football Stars | Gonzalo Higuaín | Higuaín was born in Brest, France, the son of the former Argentine footballer Jorge Higuaín, who was playing for Stade Brestois 29 as an expatriate. Gonzalo Gerardo "El Pipita" Higuaín, is an Argentine professional footballer.  On 12 February 2006, he scored his first league goal in a 3 - a victory over Banfield. Higuaín ended the 2005-06 season with five goals in 12 appearances. In the Following season, he scored eight goals in 17 league matches.

Gonzalo Higuaín opened his tally for the new league season with a goal against Getafe on September 10. On October 8, 2011 he scored a hat-trick for Argentina in a 4-1 win against Chile, to take his tally of goals for the Argentina shirt to 12 goals from 20 games. That Meant "El Pipita" had scored 9 goals in less official than two weeks time. On 29 October Higuaín scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win against Real Sociedad in San Sebastián. On 6 November he scored once in Real Madrid's 7-1 thrashing of Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabéu and he also scored the liberating 3-1 in a 4-1 win against local rivals Atletico Madrid in the Madrid derby on 26 November 2011. On November 22, 2011, Higuain scored Real's third goal in a 6-2 defeat of Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League.

Higuaín was called up by the Argentina Olympic squad for a friendly match against Guatemala in February 2008, and scored two goals in his debut as Argentina won 5-0, though the match was not Officially Recognized by FIFA as "A" international matches. Team in the Asian tour with Argentina, led by new coach Alejandro Sabella On September 2, Gonzalo Higuain played in the match against Venezuela in the city of Calcutta in India, Argentina won 1-0 in Argentina Nicolás Otamendi scoring. On 8 October 2011, scored a hat trick and Gonzalo assisted one goal for Messi in a 4-1 win against Chile, To take his tally of goals for the Argentine national team shirt 12 goals from 22 games.

Personal information
Full name Gonzalo Gerardo Higuaín
Date of birth 10 December 1987 (age 24)
Place of birth Brest, France
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position Striker

Club information
Current club Real Madrid
Number 20

Youth career
River Plate

Senior career
years Team
2004 - 2006 River Plate 35 (13)
2007 - Real Madrid 151 (86)

National team
2008 - Argentina U23 1 (2)
2009 - Argentina 23 (12)

Honours

Club
Real Madrid
     La Liga (2): 2006-07, 2007-08
     Copa del Rey (1): 2010-11
     Supercopa de España (1): 2008

Karim Benzema

Profile Football Stars | Karim Benzema | Benzema has represented France at one major international tournament: UEFA Euro 2008. Benzema was born in the city of Lyon beginning his football career with local club Terraillon.  Bron. In the 2007-08 season, Benzema Became a starter and had a breakthrough year scoring over 30 goals as Lyon won its seventh straight league title. After another season at Lyon, in July 2009, Benzema signed a six-year contract with Spanish outfit Real Madrid. After struggling to Establish Himself in his debut season with the club, in the 2010-11 season, reached prominence Benzema scoring 26 goals en-route to Helping Real Madrid win the Copa del Rey. Prior to playing for the senior team, he played on the under-17 team won the 2004 UEFA That European Under-17 Football Championship. On his debut, he scored his first international goal in a 1-0 win.

Benzema was born in Lyon, to parents of Algerian descent. Benzema is a graduate of the Lyon academy. Benzema Quickly ascended up the ranks scoring 38 goals in one season with Lyon's under-16 team and scoring 12 goals in 14 matches with the under-18 team before earning a call up to the senior squad by manager Paul Le Guen. Lyon won the match 2-0 with Benzema Providing the assists on the second goal scored by Bryan Bergougnoux. Despite losing the title, Benzema got back on track scoring his 15th and 16th goals of the season on 17 May in a 3-1 away victory over rivals Marseille, the first goal being a penalty.

On 24 August, Benzema netted two goals in Real Madrid's 4-0 victory over Norwegian club Rosenborg in an annual friendly tournament organized for the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy. On 10 December 2011, Benzema scored the fastest ever El Clásico goal, just 22 seconds into the game but eventually the Opposing team, FC Barcelona, scored three goals (Alexis, Xavi and Cesc), ending with Real Madrid losing the game, with Karim's goal as the only one for the team.

In the tournament, the which was played on home soil, Benzema scored one goal against Northern Ireland in the group stage. Benzema made only five appearances with the team scoring no goals. Alongside Yoann Gourcuff, Benzema led the team in scoring in qualifying for UEFA Euro 2012 netting three. He scored his three goals in wins over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Luxembourg, and Albania. On 17 November 2010, Benzema scored the opening goal in France's 2-1 win over England at Wembley Stadium.

Personal information
Full name Karim Benzema
Date of birth 19 December 1987 (age 24)
Place of birth Lyon, France
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position Striker

Club information
Current club Real Madrid
Number 9

Youth career1995 - 1996 SC Bron Terraillon
1996 - 2004 Lyon

Senior career
years Team
2004 - 2009 Lyon 112 (43)
2009 - Real Madrid 82 (36)

National team
2004 France U17 2 (1)
2004 - 2005 France U18 16 (14)
2005 - 2006 France U19 8 (4)
2006 - 2007 France U21 5 (0)
2007 - France 42 (13)

Honours

Club
France Lyon
     Ligue 1 (4): 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08
     Coupe de France (1): 2007-08
     Trophée des Champions (2): 2006, 2007


Real Madrid
     Copa del Rey (1): 2010-11

France U-17
     UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship (1): 2004

Individual
     Bravo Award (1): 2008
     Ligue 1 Top Goalscorer (1): 2007-08
     UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year (1): 2007-08
     UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year (1): 2007-08
     French Player of the Year (1): 2011