Making history debut, Benzema scores a hat-trick to lead Al Hilal to a crushing victory

Having just recently signed with the club, Karim Benzema instantly demonstrated his class by netting a hat-trick and providing an assist, guiding Al-Hilal to a resounding triumph.

The Saudi Arabian football transfer market witnessed a major shock when Karim Benzema chose not to renew with Al-Ittihad and instead joined league leaders Al-Hilal.

Less than three days after finalizing his contract until 2027, the 38-year-old striker earned the coach’s trust to start in the away match against Al-Akhdoud in the 21st round of the Saudi Pro League. Despite having only two training sessions with his new teammates, the former Real Madrid forward showcased his lethal instincts with an almost flawless performance.

The turning point came just after the 30th minute when Benzema skillfully capitalized on a rebound inside the penalty area to score a stylish backheel goal that opened the scoring. This goal not only broke the deadlock but also allowed Al-Hilal to fully control the game against a clearly inferior opponent.

In the second half, the partnership between Benzema and Malcom became a nightmare for Al-Akhdoud’s defense. At the 60th minute, Benzema easily tapped in a pass from Malcom to double the lead. Four minutes later, he completed his hat-trick with a neat close-range finish, making it 3-0 and extinguishing any hopes of a comeback for the home team.

Not stopping at scoring, Benzema also played a key role in linking the attack by providing an assist that enabled Malcom to score in the 70th minute, just before he was substituted for Sultan Mandash.

After Benzema left the field, Salem Al-Dawsari, the star who was named AFC Player of the Year 2025, shined by scoring twice to seal a 6-0 final victory for Al-Hilal.

This overwhelming win not only solidified Al-Hilal’s position at the top of the table with 50 points but also psychologically pressured rivals like Al-Nassr.

Notably, Benzema’s brilliant performance at Al-Hilal is considered an indirect cause of Cristiano Ronaldo’s harsh reactions at Al-Nassr related to the investment strategy of the Saudi Public Investment Fund.

With a balanced squad including stars like Theo Hernandez, Ruben Neves, and Darwin Nunez, Al-Hilal is proving to be the top contender for the championship this season, especially with Benzema in peak form.