AI-generated editorial illustration of a symbolic football farewell; it does not depict Benzema or an item belonging to him.
Updated: 16 October 2026
Karim Benzema’s farewell to Real Madrid belongs to June 2023. Keeping that date in view makes the story easier to read: it marked the end of his Madrid period, rather than a prediction of a future departure. This retrospective brings together the main moments and the final figures recorded by the club.
Two different farewell moments
On 4 June 2023, Benzema received the Bernabéu crowd’s ovation and scored his 354th goal for Madrid. On 6 June, Real Madrid City hosted the tribute and farewell event. The institutional ceremony and the goodbye in front of supporters were different parts of the same week.
His trophy collection spans different kinds of achievement. Alongside the five European Cups came five Club World Cups, four UEFA Super Cups, four league championships, three Spanish Cups and four Spanish Super Cups. The record brings together long league campaigns, knockout competitions and finals in different settings across fourteen Madrid seasons.
The final record for 2009–2023
The club’s historical profile records 648 appearances and 354 goals across fourteen seasons. Benzema finished that period with 25 trophies, including five European Cups. These figures describe his Real Madrid career, rather than every match or achievement in his professional life.
A report’s date matters. Some announcements that week appeared before the last match had finished. To compare totals, use the historical profile and the 6 June tribute, which include his final Madrid figures. Mixing different cut-off points can create an apparent disagreement where the timing is the real explanation.
Why 2021/22 is an important reference
The club particularly remembers his 44 goals in the 2021/22 season and the Ballon d’Or he received in 2022. That campaign offers a clear starting point for exploring his role in the team, without reducing fourteen years to a handful of isolated highlights.
He made 46 appearances and provided ten assists in that campaign, according to the club’s season review. His 44 goals comprised 27 in LaLiga, fifteen in the Champions League and two in the Spanish Super Cup. Finishing as top scorer in both the league and Champions League gives his influence a clear competitive context.
Place a personal memory in its wider story
A departure can help organise a supporter’s own memories: a trip, a particular game or a conversation with somebody discovering the club. If you keep a ticket or photograph, record its date before sharing it. A dated memory retains its meaning without being mistaken for a current scene.
For a longer perspective, explore Real Madrid’s origins and three stories from the club archive. Start future football plans with Ticketfan in English, checking the actual fixture and offer. The story on this page remains a historical account of a farewell in 2023.