Karim Benzema’s Debut Hat Trick for Al Hilal

Karim Benzema made an immediate impact following his high-profile transfer to Al Hilal, scoring a hat trick in his debut for the Saudi Pro League club.

The former Real Madrid forward officially joined the Saudi Pro League leaders on Monday, transitioning from rivals Al Ittihad.

After the deal faced delays due to regulatory issues with the Saudi Ministry of Sports and the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the obstacles were resolved on deadline day, allowing the 38-year-old to fulfill his desire to change clubs.

Benzema’s inaugural goal for Al Hilal arrived just 31 minutes into the match against Al Okhdood on Thursday, showcasing his skill with a neat back-heeled finish. He quickly added two more goals in the second half, first slotting home a side-footed shot in the 60th minute following a pass from new teammate Malcom, and then completing his hat trick with a close-range finish just four minutes later.

Al Hilal triumphed with a commanding 6-0 victory, placing them three points ahead of Al Ahli at the top of the Saudi Pro League standings, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr trails by a further point, albeit with a game in hand.

Reports from ESPN indicate that Benzema felt disrespected by the contract extension offered by Al Ittihad. His transfer to Al Hilal, which was facilitated by PIF, has reportedly caused tension with his former Madrid teammate Ronaldo, who subsequently refused to play for Al Nassr in protest. Sources suggest that Ronaldo attempted to block Benzema’s transfer, believing it to be unfair and indicative of PIF’s intentions to strengthen Al Hilal’s title ambitions.