Karim Benzema extends Real Madrid contract: which player has won more trophies with Los Blancos?

Karim Benzema has extended his contract with Real Madrid by a year, with the club applying an unwritten rule which will see the current Ballon d’Or holder prolong his stay at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. The five-time Champions League winner, who will turn 36 in December, has come to a gentleman’s agreement with president Florentino Pérez, who signed him from Lyon in 2009. The extension has been confirmed to AS by highly reliable sources at the club .

Next season will be Benzema’s last in Madrid

Benzema is aware, however, that next season will be his last in the Spanish capital, which he has no issues with. The Frenchman, who is expected to remain involved with the club in some capacity once his playing career is over, also recognises the need for Los Blancos to strengthen in attack. Brazilian youngster Endrick has already signed for the club but won’t make the move to Madrid until 2024, while other options in the transfer market in the transfer market are also being looked at.

‘Ballon d’Or clause’

Benzema’s deal will now run until June 2024, with the extension coming as a result of the so-called ‘Ballon d’Or clause’, a reward for winning the award for the first time in his career at the age of 34. Following a glittering career with Madrid, Benzema received recognition from ‘France Football’ after captaining Los Merengues to a 14th European Cup/Champions League triumph, a 35th LaLiga title and a 12th Spanish Super Cup victory. On top of that, the attacker was the top goalscorer in all three competitions, netting 15, 27 and two goals respectively. His role in Madrid’s Champions League win was especially vital, as he scored three goals against Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16, four versus Chelsea in the quarter-finals and another three against City in the semi-finals as Los Blancos came from behind to win all three ties.

Benzema’s buries Barça

In LaLiga, Barcelona are the club that have most suffered at Benzema’s hands. In the last Clásico, albeit in the Copa del Rey, the former France international scored a hat-trick to overtake the number of goals scored by Madrid idol Raúl González in the fixture. With 16 goals, only six men have ever scored more often against the Catalans: Guillermo Gorostiza (29), Guillermo Campanal (20), Cristiano Ronaldo (20), Telmo Zarra (20), Alfredo Di Stéfano (19) and Hugo Sánchez (19). As well as Raúl, Real Madrid greats Ferenc Puskás and Paco Gento have also been left behind.

How many trophies has Benzema won with Real Madrid?

In addition to five Champions League trophies, Benzema has won LaLiga (four times), the Copa del Rey (twice), the Spanish Super Cup (four times), the UEFA Super Cup (four times) and the FIFA Club World Cup (five times). His 24 trophies with the club mean former teammate Marcelo (25) is the only player in Real Madrid history to have won more. With Los Blancos having made it to the Champions League semi-final and Copa del Rey final, Benzema could soon take the title as their most-decorated player.