ANKARA
Real Madrid's French star Karim Benzema has been one of the main pillars of the Spanish football powerhouse as this season he was on fire in the offense, leading the Whites to 2022 Spanish La Liga and UEFA Champions League successes.
A Real Madrid forward since 2009, Benzema, 34, scored 44 goals in 46 appearances in the 2021-22 season.
Having spent a dream season in both campaigns, Benzema was the top scorer in the La Liga and Champions League.
He scored 27 goals in 32 league matches as Real Madrid sealed the 2022 La Liga title after they took 86 points in 38 games.
Barcelona came second as they collected 73 points.
In the 2015-16 La Liga season, Benzema tallied 24 goals, which is his second-best league performance.
Benzema also displayed a prolific performance for the Whites in the 2021-22 Champions League, scoring 15 goals in 12 matches.
In previous Champions League seasons at Real Madrid and France's Olympique Lyon (OL), Benzema reached single digits in scoring.
In Saturday's Champions League final, Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0 at Paris' Stade de France to win their 14th Champions League trophy.
Whites captain Benzema played in the final but did not score.
Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior scored the winning goal for the Champions League's record holders.
In both 2021-22 domestic and Champions League seasons, Benzema displayed his best club career performance since 2005, when he made his senior team debut at Olympique Lyon.
Benzema's journey from Lyon to Madrid
Born in Lyon to Algerian parents, Benzema started to play at his boyhood club Olympique Lyon in 2005 when he was a teenager.
He racked up 66 goals in 148 appearances for OL.
The Frenchman was a goal threat for Olympique Lyon in those years.
He drew attention with his goalscoring skills.
Benzema helped OL earn four French Ligue 1 titles in a row from 2005 to 2008.
In 2009, he left Olympique Lyon for his first and only overseas experience as Real Madrid signed him for €35 million (nearly $50 million).
Benzema previously extended his contract with Real Madrid until 2023.
Benzema equals with Raul as club's 2nd all-time top scorer
In May, Benzema leveled with Raul Gonzalez as the Spanish club's second all-time top scorer.
He has scored 323 goals in 605 Real Madrid appearances since 2009.
Real Madrid's Spanish legend Raul, who retired from the game in 2015, hit 323 goals for the Spanish team in 1994-2010.
Then he played for Germany's Schalke, Qatar's Al-Sadd, and US club New York Cosmos.
Real Madrid's all-time top scorer is Cristiano Ronaldo as the Portuguese superstar -- now a Manchester United forward -- scored 451 goals for the Whites.
Ronaldo played for Real Madrid in 2009-2018.
22 titles in 13 seasons
Benzema is one of the most decorated Real Madrid players as he helped the Whites win 22 titles in 13 seasons.
The French international won five Champions League, four La Liga titles, four FIFA Club World Cups, four Spanish Super Cups, three UEFA Super Cups, and two Spanish Cup trophies.
Brazilian left back Marcelo is Real Madrid's all-time most decorated player.
Marcelo, 34, played for Real Madrid in 2007-2022 to win 25 trophies. After Saturday's victory against Liverpool, he confirmed his Real Madrid exit.
Separately, Benzema sealed the 2021 UEFA Nations League with his native France.
He scored 36 goals in 94 international caps for Les Bleus.
