Benzema Battles Illness as Al-Ittihad Draws with Damac in Saudi Pro League
14 January 2026
The French star Karim Benzema played in the Al-Ittihad vs Damac match despite illness, surprising fans who feared a late withdrawal.
Match Context
The clash ended 1-1 in round 15 of the Roshen Saudi Pro League, a tense contest that kept both sides in the hunt.
Benzema played the first half and was substituted at halftime, with Sérgio Conceição bringing Saleh Al-Shehri to lead the attack.
According to Al-Yom, Benzema played despite a health issue and fever, for many fans worldwide.
The source said medical staff advised against it to protect his health, but he insisted on supporting teammates on the pitch and proving his determination to return strong.
This season the veteran has appeared 18 times, tallying 15 goals and recording no assists.
Standings and Aftermath
With the draw, Al-Ittihad moved to 27 points in sixth, while Damac held ten in fourteenth.
Punchline 1: Benzema proved fever can't bench a legend.
Punchline 2: If resilience were a goal, he already won.
