Karim Benzema could be preparing to end his professional career earlier than expected. According to reports from Spain, the 36-year-old Al-Ittihad forward is considering retirement in 2025 instead of playing through to the expiry of his contract in 2026. The reports claim that behind his impressive scoring numbers this season, there is a growing sense of fatigue with the daily routines of Saudi Arabian football.
Strong performances on the pitch
None of the reported uncertainty has affected Benzema's contribution on the field. Under head coach Laurent Blanc, Al-Ittihad have established themselves as the leading team in the Saudi Pro League. Benzema is currently the league's second-leading scorer with 10 goals, behind only Aleksandar Mitrovic of Al-Hilal, who has 12. These are not the numbers of a player in rapid decline. He remains decisive, dangerous and physically capable of competing at a high level.
This makes the reported desire to retire all the more interesting. The fatigue mentioned by the Spanish press seems linked less to his legs than to his daily life. After more than two decades at the top of European football, first with Lyon and then Real Madrid, the repetition of training sessions, travel, and media obligations can wear down even the most dedicated competitors. Benzema, according to the reports, has started to feel that weariness during his time in Saudi Arabia.
Al-Ittihad would likely not block the departure. The financial dimension is significant. Benzema is reported to earn 100 million euros per season, one of the highest salaries in the game. If he left in 2025, the club would save a substantial portion of that outlay while also freeing a squad position for a new signing. This calculation could make an early parting of ways easier for all parties, even though the team would lose a marquee player.
A difficult season under Gallardo
The reports also point back to instability in his first season in Jeddah. When Benzema arrived in the summer of 2023, expectations were enormous. Al-Ittihad had just won the Saudi Pro League, and the signing of a reigning Ballon d'Or winner was a statement of intent. But the campaign did not unfold as planned. Under Marcelo Gallardo, who took charge during that season, the team endured inconsistent results and reported internal difficulties. Benzema was not always happy. Those memories may still influence his thinking about the future.
The situation has improved under Laurent Blanc, with Al-Ittihad again at the top of the table. Yet a single season of stability may not be enough to erase the disappointment and routine fatigue from earlier days. According to Spanish reports, Benzema is no longer sure that he wants to continue until 2026. Retirement at the end of the current campaign would cut his contract short by exactly one year.
A glittering career at Real Madrid
Benzema's footballing story is already the stuff of legend. Born in Lyon, he emerged from the club's academy and quickly became one of French football's most exciting young talents. He moved to Real Madrid in 2009, a transfer that changed the direction of his career. Over the next 14 seasons, he became the heartbeat of Madrid's attack, evolving from a support forward into the main scorer after Cristiano Ronaldo's departure.
His time at the Bernabéu produced extraordinary numbers: 648 appearances, 354 goals, 165 assists. He won five Champions League titles, four La Liga trophies, three Copa del Rey titles, four Spanish Super Cups, four UEFA Super Cups, and five FIFA Club World Cups. No other modern forward has consistently delivered at that level for so many seasons. His crowning achievement came in 2022, when he won the Ballon d'Or after leading Real Madrid to another Champions League final victory.
The nickname "Nueve" became synonymous with elegance, intelligence and ruthlessness in front of goal. Benzema was more than a goalscorer: he created chances, dropped deep to link midfield with attack, and made teammates around him better. This football intelligence is one reason why Real Madrid would welcome him back in a different role after retirement.
Ambassador role in the Arab world
According to the reports, Benzema has already been mentioned as a future Real Madrid ambassador abroad, particularly in the Arab zone. This makes sense on several levels. He has spent two years playing in Saudi Arabia, knows the region well, and remains enormously popular there. Real Madrid have also invested in the Middle East, with the Spanish Super Cup staged in Saudi Arabia in recent years and a large fan base in the region. An ambassador with Benzema's profile could open doors and reinforce those commercial and sporting ties.
The relationship between Benzema and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is said to remain excellent. Perez was the key figure behind the striker's move to Spain in 2009 and has always defended him publicly. If Benzema does retire in 2025, that relationship could give him a smooth transition into the club's institutional structure. He would not be the first former Real Madrid great to become a club ambassador, but few would have the same natural connection to both Europe and the Middle East.
International career and legacy
Benzema's international career with France was complicated but also productive. He played for the national team in major tournaments, helped France win the UEFA Nations League in 2021, and was selected for the 2022 World Cup squad. An injury ruled him out of that competition before it began. He then announced his international retirement at the end of 2022, choosing to step away from the France shirt after more than a decade of ups and downs.
His reputation in French football remains debated, especially after his absence from the national team for several years. But on the pitch, few strikers have matched his all-around quality. He combined power with finesse, first-time finishing with patient build-up play, and a cold temperament in the biggest Champions League nights. At Real Madrid, he leaves a permanent mark. Any future role as an ambassador would simply formalise a relationship that has never really disappeared.
What could happen next
There is no official confirmation from the player or his club. The reports from Spain are still rumours, but they add another layer to the story of one of football's most fascinating late-career chapters. If Benzema retires in 2025, he will leave with his reputation intact, still scoring goals in one of the most competitive leagues in Asia. If he chooses to see out his contract until 2026, he will give Al-Ittihad another year of leadership and attacking quality.
The next transfer windows will be telling. If Al-Ittihad begin to scout for replacements or Real Madrid start to talk more openly about an ambassadorial role, the speculation will only grow. For now, Benzema remains a professional under contract, focused on the current season. The fact that he is scoring goals and leading the league suggests that the competitive fire has not been completely extinguished. But the decision about when to stop belongs to him.
With or without a farewell on the pitch, Benzema's future is likely to remain linked to football. His bond with Real Madrid, his experience in Saudi Arabia, and his global reputation make him a natural bridge between two important football cultures. Whether that bridge is built in 2025 or later, one thing is certain: the former Ballon d'Or winner will not simply disappear from the game.
Source:RMC Sport Mercato Foot News