Benzema kicks off his era at Al-Hilal with a hat-trick, his former Real teammates pay tribute to him.

Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick against Okhdood (6-0) on Thursday night for his debut with Al Hilal. A display of strength, greeted by tributes from Modrić, Marcelo, and Vinicius.

Three days after the spectacular completion of his free transfer to Al-Hilal, Karim Benzema delivered a masterful performance for his debut, scoring a hat-trick in the 6-0 victory over Al-Okhdood. A masterstroke that did not fail to draw reactions from his former Real Madrid teammates.

At 38, the 2022 Ballon d’Or reminded everyone of the full extent of his class. He opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark in typically Benzema fashion: a magistral back-heel in the box, proving that the striker’s instinct remains intact. The former Real Madrid man then followed up, doubling the lead on the hour with a low shot, before completing his hat-trick four minutes later with another close-range shot. The man of the match even provided a decisive assist to Malcom for the fourth goal, before Salem Al Dawsari sealed the score.

On social media, the striker expressed his pride: “Proud of the team. Thank you for your support and warm welcome.” The words immediately drew reactions from his old guard. From Madrid, tributes poured in. Luka Modrić reacted with three fire emojis, while Marcelo replied with a shower of hearts and flames. Vinicius Junior, for his part, sent a cryptic yet evocative message to his former partner: “KB oscuridad” (“KB obscurity”), a nickname and homage to the Frenchman’s relentless style.

This inaugural hat-trick serves as a resounding justification for Benzema’s decision, who had refused a contract extension from Al-Ittihad to join his new club. The Benzema era in Riyadh begins under the best possible auspices, and Europe, through the voices of his former teammates, has hailed the maestro’s return to grace.