Benzema credits the scout who lit his rise to stardom

How a Lyon scout lit Benzema’s path

French star Karim Benzema surprised the scout who first spotted him, reflecting simply on the person who kickstarted his career.

Growing up in Olympique Lyonnais's academy, he progressed to the first team before moving to Real Madrid, where he enjoyed a glittering career and later joined Al-Ittihad in 2023.

Gracious words from LCI

During an appearance on LCI with former Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas, Benzema appeared on screen and said, "I owe who I am today to this man."

He added: "He helped me greatly to realize my dream in football, and I owe him everything."

Aulas replied: "What he said is true; I was very close to him before he became the star we know, and that pleases me."

Benzema came to Lyon at a very young age, but I noticed in him things that many did not, because we ran one of Europe's best training centers for two decades.

The piece also noted a social post from LCI's coverage on X.

Two light punchlines to close: "If mentorship were a transfer fee, this man would have paid Benzema's mortgage."

"Turns out genius travels best with a humble passport—and a coach who checks the fuel gauge before the bus leaves."