Karim Benzema has emerged from a long, tense, lean patch and is now playing football with a smile for Real Madrid and France ahead of his first World Cup.
Especially after his role in helping Real Madrid to the 2014 Champions League, with a key performance in the semi-final. He was excluded from the 2010 World Cup squad because of a lax attitude, and had been under increasing pressure at Madrid.
He then went 1,222 minutes without a goal for France before his desperate teammates collectively set him up in a 5-0 drubbing of Australia.
Since then the goals have flowed and he looks more like the man Madrid paid Lyon 35 million euros for five seasons ago.
At his best Benzema's grace, speed and technical ability around the box make him more than just a finisher.
Karim Benzema
Surname: Benzema
Firstname: Karim
Country: France
Date of birth: 1987-12-19
Birthplace: Lyon
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 73.0 kg
Playing Career
Position: Striker
Clubs: Lyon (2004-2009), Real Madrid (since 2009)
International appearances: 66
International goals: 21
International debut: 28/03/2007, France-Austria (1-0)
Last international appearance: 08/06/2014, France-Jamaica (8-0)
Playing Honours
International
European Championships: quarter-finals (2012), first round (2008), 6 matches, 0 goals
Club
-Champions League (2014)
-French Championships (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
-French Cup (2008)
-French Supercups (2005, 2006, 2007)
-Spanish Championship (2012)
-Spanish Cups (2011, 2014)
-Spanish Supercup (2012)
Other honours
-European Under-17 Championship (2004)