Karim Benzema is one of the most decorated footballers in the world, boasting five UEFA Champions League titles in his career and a Ballon d'Or. Much of that is owed to his eccentric, high-intensity workouts.

The soccer phenom recently took to Instagram on July 7, posting a reel of himself doing neutral grip pull-ups before shooting his legs upwards, hitting both his back and core. "Kb9 ☝🏼," wrote Benzema, as a curt nod to his time with Real Madrid.

The iconic jersey moniker was a simple yet loud message that the French player was not past his prime yet. In fact, the Al-Hilal striker scored 17 goals and 2 assists within just 23 matches with the club.

Moreover, before playing for the Saudi Arabian Pro League club, Benzema won 25 trophies for Real Madrid, recording an impressive 500 goals, trailing only behind Cristiano Ronaldo.

The man behind his breath-taking physique and admirable fitness is his friend and personal trainer, Javier Atlaya, with whom he has spent over a decade polishing his strength and conditioning.

The bizarre device behind Karim Benzema's physical transformation

Atlaya, a former karateka, has been the frontman behind Benzema and the Madrid footballers' training, which involves a peculiar body suit, called the electrostimulation (EMS) suit, which sends targeted electrical impulses through the muscles.

While the equipment sounds fancy, sessions with Atlaya are deceptively intense: just 30 minutes equals five hours in a traditional gym. Besides strenuous cardio and weightlifting, Benzema is also a fan of combat training.

“He also has more flexibility. He likes martial arts, he used to have a boxing trainer, and sometimes he does kickboxing with me, but always with a suit on," Atlaya told Guillermo Rai from The Athletic.

Turns out, the French footballer stops at nothing when it comes to armoring himself for the front field. Unfortunately, the 38-year-old would have to end his career without a World Cup to his name.

What shocked many fans was Karim Benzema's harrowing absence from the French side in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The striker had announced his retirement from International soccer in December 2022 after his final World Cup appearance, although he never stepped on the field.

Although that opportunity seems to have slipped away from him forever, Benzema's career is far from over.

Who's your favorite to win the Al Hilal vs Al Raed in the King's Cup on August 16?

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Written by

Proma Chatterjee

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi