LA LEYENDA - Karim Benzema
Esquire Latinoamérica|Abril 2022
Dicen que la presión crea diamantes, pero esto no solo vale para las gemas, sino también para los hombres, y Karim Benzema es la prueba. Hay pocos lugares donde las expectativas sean tan elevadas como el mejor club de fútbol del mundo y es ahí, en ese entorno de máxima exigencia, donde el astro francés se ha convertido en un referente de determinación y éxito. Conversamos con él en exclusiva sobre sus récords, su estilo personal y la importancia de ser perseverante.
Víctor Martínez Ranero
LA LEYENDA - Karim Benzema

KARIM BENZEMA es la clase de talento que aparece una vez cada generación. Oriundo de Lyon, la tercera ciudad más grande de Francia, nació para jugar al fútbol. Su genialdominio del balón y gran capacidad de entender el ritmo del juego, cualidades que le permiten crear oportunidades para sí mismo y sus compañeros, son evidentes desde que, con 17 años de edad, debutó en el equipo de su ciudad, el Olympique Lyonnais.

Son estas virtudes las que convencieron a Florentino Pérez, presidente del Real Madrid, de hacerse de sus servicios en 2009. Con los blancos ha ganado cuatro Champions, tres ligas y dos Copas del Rey. Parece difícil de creer, pero a pesar de este currículum apabullante, hasta hace poco a Benzema se le podía considerar un jugador infravalorado, por lo menos entre los aficionados que ponen atención -en especial- a las tablas de goleo. Esto no porque el francés no fuera contundente frente al marco rival, sino porque sus contribuciones principales iban más allá de las anotaciones.

Karim jugaba para el equipo. Generaba espacios, asistía a sus colegas y sabía cómo moverse sin balón. Continúa haciendo todo eso, pero ahora, además, la responsabilidad de definir ha recaído principalmente sobre él. Esto tras la partida del hombre con el que formó una de las más exitosas mancuernas del fútbol español: Cristiano Ronaldo. Es imposible negar las enormes condiciones del portugués, pero sus números lucirían muy distintos de no ser por Benzema. Durante el tiempo que jugaron juntos, 47 de sus goles vinieron a pase directo del francés.

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