Benzema’s Hat-Trick Return: Al Hilal’s 6-0 Masterclass Sparks Echo of Malcolm’s Saudi Feat
5 February 2026
Match highlights
French striker Karim Benzema, the new forward for Al Hilal, repeated a feat once achieved by his Brazilian teammate Malcolm de Oliveira, by delivering a superb hat-trick against Al Okhdood on Thursday evening.
Benzema's treble powered Al Hilal to a 6-0 victory on matchday 21 of the Saudi Pro League.
Opta notes that Benzema became the first player to score a hat-trick in his first league appearance for Al Hilal since Malcolm did so against Abha in 2023-24.
Malcolm had previously completed a hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Abha on August 14, 2023, and Benzema repeated the milestone after 906 days.
Benzema officially joined Al Hilal last Monday after terminating his contract with Al Ittihad, and he wasted no time stamping a dazzling start.
Context and significance
This early impact signals Benzema’s immediate influence in Saudi football and keeps Al Hilal squarely in the title conversation.
The Frenchman brings experience, poise, and a finishing touch that already has fans dreaming of more memorable nights in the kingdom.
Punchline 1: If goals were emails, Benzema just delivered three inbox messages in one go.
Punchline 2: That hat-trick wasn’t a one-off — he just filed a transfer request to more goals.
