ไทย
English
中國人
The road ahead looks increasingly murky for Real Madrid icon Karim Benzema, who at 38 years of age is set to part ways with Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, with all possibilities on the table for his next move — including hanging up his boots for good.
Benzema followed in the footsteps of former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, making the move to Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2023 following his final campaign with Los Blancos, drawing the curtain on his time in Europe's top flight.
The French striker joined Al Ittihad in 2023, a club largely backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), and claimed both the Saudi Pro League title and the domestic cup during the 2024–25 season.
After two and a half years at the club, he was snapped up by "sister club" Al Hilal in the January transfer window — a move that reportedly infuriated Ronaldo. Benzema was unable to guide Al Hilal to the league crown, finishing as runners-up behind Ronaldo's Al Nassr. Now, with the 2026–27 season barely underway, Benzema is set to bring his eight-month stint at the club to a close.
Why Karim Benzema Is Leaving Al Hilal
According to Fabrizio Romano, Benzema and Al Hilal reached a mutual agreement to terminate his contract on Monday — just 10 days after the striker publicly declared his intention to remain at the club, following a full 90-minute appearance in the team's second league fixture of the season.
"Al Hilal Club Company and French player Karim Benzema have mutually agreed to terminate their contractual relationship, bringing his time with Al Hilal's first football team to an end," the club confirmed in an official statement.
The driving force behind Al Hilal's decision to part ways with Benzema lies in the club's heavy spending during the summer transfer window.
Al Hilal splashed out on three Premier League-tested attackers, with Crysencio Summerville, Ollie Watkins, and Gabriel Martinelli collectively costing the Saudi outfit well in excess of $200 million. The arrival of this trio pushed Al Hilal beyond the permitted quota of foreign players allowed in Saudi Pro League squads.
Benzema was widely expected to be the player let go as a consequence of this situation, according to Marca. Had he remained, there was a strong likelihood he would have been ineligible for Saudi Pro League registration, restricting him to Asian Champions League appearances only.
Despite netting 10 goals in 16 outings for Al Hilal, Benzema is heading for the exit. At his age, the situation leaves him in a deeply uncertain position.
Karim Benzema at Career Crossroads
Although Benzema's Al Hilal contract was cut short with a year still remaining, the Frenchman retains a highly lucrative deal as a Saudi Pro League ambassador that extends through to 2030.
The 2022 Ballon d'Or recipient was drawing salaries from both Al Hilal and the Saudi Pro League under two separate agreements — a key part of the attractive financial package that lured him to the Kingdom in the first place. However, that ambassador deal also significantly narrows his options going forward.
Benzema's ambassador contract alone is said to be worth $23 million annually (£17 million), but his earnings would be forfeited and the agreement terminated should the veteran forward join a club outside of Saudi Arabia, per the Daily Mail. Consequently, a return to European football has already been ruled out.
A potential alternative would be a transfer to Al Shabab or a return to Al Ittihad, two other PIF-owned Saudi clubs. Nevertheless, several reports suggest that Benzema is also weighing up the prospect of retirement.
An announcement is expected within the coming days or weeks, but should Benzema ultimately choose to retire, it would mark the farewell of one of the finest strikers of the modern era and one of the most celebrated figures in Real Madrid's storied history.