Retirement has emerged as a strong option for Karim Benzema after the French striker decided to end his brief spell with Al-Hilal, agreeing to mutually terminate his contract with the Saudi club just six months after joining.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed that Benzema will soon announce his final decision regarding his future. The 38-year-old is weighing hanging up his boots against one final stint with another Saudi Pro League club, while completely ruling out a return to European football.
The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner’s future remains open to multiple scenarios, particularly with Spanish publication AS reporting that he holds offers to continue playing and ruling out retirement, leaving the decisive choice in the player’s hands over the coming days.
Benzema’s departure from Al-Hilal coincided with the club’s official announcement of English striker Ollie Watkins on a three-year deal from Aston Villa. Negotiations for Watkins were tied to settling the French star’s situation and freeing up a slot in the squad roster.
Benzema’s relationship with manager Simone Inzaghi had experienced clear tension since the opening matchday of the Saudi Pro League, when the French forward protested his substitution against Al-Faisaly. Despite the Italian manager’s attempt to publicly contain the incident, subsequent reports pointed to disagreements regarding the player’s role and future within the lineup.
Despite his brief spell in an Al-Hilal shirt, Benzema maintained impressive attacking statistics, featuring in 16 matches across all competitions, scoring 10 goals and providing 5 assists, having kicked off his journey with the club by scoring a hat-trick against Al-Okhdood last February.
Benzema joined Al-Hilal on a free transfer after terminating his contract with Al-Ittihad, whom he represented from summer 2023 following the end of his historic career with Real Madrid. During his time with Al-Ittihad, he scored 54 goals and provided 17 assists across 83 matches in all competitions.
Throughout his full Saudi experience with Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal, Benzema reached 99 matches, 64 goals, and 22 assists. He led Al-Ittihad to a domestic double—winning the Saudi Pro League and the King Cup—before making a dramatic move to rivals Al-Hilal in February 2026.
If he chooses to retire, Benzema will bring the curtain down on an extraordinary career that began at Lyon and reached its peak during 14 years with Real Madrid, where he scored 354 goals and won 25 trophies—including 5 UEFA Champions League titles—alongside winning the Ballon d’Or, before moving to Saudi Arabia for the final chapter of his career.
