Christian Benteke

Last updated

Christian Benteke
2017 RUS v BEL exhibition - Christian Benteke (cropped).jpg
Benteke playing for Belgium in 2017
Personal information
Full name Christian Benteke Liolo [1]
Date of birth (1990-12-03) 3 December 1990 (age 33) [2]
Place of birth Kinshasa, Zaire [3]
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) [4]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 D.C. United
Number 20
Youth career
1996–2004 JS Pierreuse
2004–2006 Standard Liège
2006–2007 Genk
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2007–2009 Genk 10 (1)
2009–2011 Standard Liège 18 (3)
2009–2010 → Kortrijk (loan) 34 (14)
2010–2011 → Mechelen (loan) 18 (6)
2011–2012 Genk 37 (19)
2012–2015 Aston Villa 89 (42)
2015–2016 Liverpool 29 (9)
2016–2022 Crystal Palace 162 (35)
2022– D.C. United 44 (21)
International career‡
2007 Belgium U17 18 (6)
2007–2008 Belgium U18 7 (3)
2008–2009 Belgium U19 10 (10)
2009–2012 Belgium U21 9 (4)
2010– Belgium 45 (18)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 02:10, 14 April 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:36, 26 February 2023 (UTC)

Christian Benteke Liolo (born 3 December 1990) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Major League Soccer club D.C. United and the Belgium national team.

Contents

Benteke began his career at Standard Liège, playing a part in their 2008–09 Belgian First Division triumph. Following a season at Genk he was signed for £7 million by Aston Villa. He scored 49 goals in 101 matches for Villa across all competitions, including 19 Premier League goals in his debut season and helping them to the 2015 FA Cup Final, before transferring to Liverpool in 2015 for £32.5 million. He spent a single season at Liverpool, scoring a total of 10 goals, before being transferred to Crystal Palace at the start of the 2016–17 season.

Benteke has earned over forty caps for Belgium since making his debut in 2010. He missed the 2014 FIFA World Cup through injury, but was part of their team that reached the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2016, also featuring at UEFA Euro 2020.

Early life

Benteke was born in Kinshasa in 1990. He and his family fled during the Mobutu regime and in 1993 emigrated to Liège, Belgium. [5] [6]

Club career

Standard Liège and Genk

Benteke played youth football for JS Pierreuse and later Standard Liège before moving to Genk. He rejoined Standard in January 2009 [7] and scored three goals in 12 matches as the Walloon club won the 2008–09 Belgian championship. [8] On 7 August 2009, he joined KV Kortrijk on loan for a season, [9] where he scored 14 goals in the Belgian Pro League, including five goals in the championship play-offs, as the club achieved its best ever finish. [10]

He spent the following season on loan at KV Mechelen as part of the transfer of Aloys Nong, who moved from Mechelen to Standard Liège. Benteke's spell at Mechelen was less successful, with seven goals from 25 appearances. He returned to Genk from Standard in August 2011 for an undisclosed fee, [11] and went on to score 16 goals and register nine assists in 20 starts during the 2011–12 season. [12]

After beginning the 2012–13 season with three goals from five league matches, Benteke was subject of an offer of €6m from Premier League club Aston Villa in August 2012. [13]

Aston Villa

2012–13 season

On 31 August 2012, Benteke joined Premier League club Aston Villa on a four-year deal for a fee believed to be around £7 million. [14]

On 15 September 2012, Benteke scored on his debut for Aston Villa in a 2–0 win against Swansea City, after coming on as a substitute for Austrian forward Andreas Weimann. The goal came when Swansea defender Ashley Williams headed the ball into Benteke's path, which he then lifted over the keeper and tapped in on the volley. Villa manager Paul Lambert praised Benteke's performance on his debut calling him "unplayable". [15] He then scored Villa's only goal in a 1–1 home draw with Norwich City. [16] He added a further two goals to his tally during a 3–2 victory over Swindon Town in the League Cup. [17] He scored the winner in a 1–0 Premier League victory for Villa against Reading at Villa Park on 27 November to continue his impressive start in English football. [18]

Benteke then scored Villa's fourth goal in a 4–1 League Cup win over Norwich City at Carrow Road. [19] Benteke further added to his impressive start in Premier League football by scoring two goals in Villa's 3–1 win against Liverpool at Anfield on 15 December. In addition to the two goals, he also assisted Villa's second goal with a back-heel to Andreas Weimann. Paul Lambert said afterwards that 'Benteke has been unbelievable', after already stating midweek (post–Norwich) that 'you run out of things to say about the guy, how well he's performing and how young he is'. [20] Around Christmas time, Tottenham Hotspur manager André Villas-Boas was reportedly interested in signing Benteke, referring to him as the season's "surprise package". [21]

After not scoring for three games, Benteke scored Villa's first penalty kick in almost a year in a 2–2 draw away to Swansea City in Villa's first game of 2013. [22] He recorded his 10th goal of the season with a 28-yard strike against West Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion in a 2–2 draw at The Hawthorns. The goal was nominated for January's goal of the month competition on Match of the Day. [23] He then netted Villa's first goal in their 2–1 League Cup semi-final victory over Bradford City. However, the victory was not enough as Bradford won 4–3 on aggregate to progress to the final. [24] Former England striker Michael Owen called him one of the signings of the season and posted a tweet the day after the semi-final saying: 'I'm seriously impressed with Benteke. What a player.' [25] Benteke continued his rich scoring form with a goal against Newcastle United and a brace against Everton, in a game that Villa had led 3–1 at one point but eventually finished 3–3. [26] [27] He racked up his 15th goal in all competitions, as well as tallying six goals in five games, when he scored a penalty in a 2–1 victory against West Ham United on 10 February 2013. This was Villa's first league victory in eight games, since Benteke inspired the win against Liverpool back in December. [28] Benteke scored a deflected goal in a 2–1 victory at Reading, scoring the club's 1,000th goal in the Premier League in the process. The following week he went on to score a goal that sealed a 3–2 win over Queens Park Rangers. [29] [30] He then scored the third goal to seal a 3–1 win against relegation rivals Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium. [31] Benteke was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year after his excellent debut season, eventually finishing as runner-up to eventual double award winner Gareth Bale. [32] On 29 April, Benteke scored his first hat-trick for Aston Villa in a 6–1 thrashing of Sunderland. These goals also saw him exceed Dwight Yorke's record for most Premier League goals in a season (18) by an Aston Villa player and pass the 20 goal mark in all competitions, becoming the first player to do so for Villa since Juan Pablo Ángel in the 2003–04 season. [33]

On 11 May, Benteke scored Villa's only goal in a 2–1 loss to Chelsea but in the second half he was sent off after receiving his second yellow card for a high boot on John Terry, meaning he would miss the last game of the season. [34]

2013–14 season

Benteke playing for Aston Villa in 2013 Christian Benteke, Aston Villa 2013 (cropped).jpg
Benteke playing for Aston Villa in 2013

Benteke's 23 goals in 2012–13 led to speculation about his future, and in early July he submitted a transfer request. Villa said he could leave only if their valuation were met, but a fortnight later he withdrew his transfer request, after talks with manager Paul Lambert, and signed a new four-year contract with the club. [35] [36] On his second pre-season appearance, he scored a hat-trick against Crewe Alexandra in a 5–1 victory. [37] He finished pre-season with seven goals in five appearances, including two goals against Málaga at Villa Park. [38]

On 17 August 2013, Benteke scored twice, once from a penalty and one headed goal via a rebound from a missed penalty, in Aston Villa's 3–1 away-win against Arsenal on the opening day of the 2013–14 Premier League season. [39] Four days later, Benteke scored against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in a 2–1 defeat. [40] He scored his fourth goal in as many games, as Villa comfortably beat League One side Rotherham United 3–0 in the League Cup second round. [41] He continued scoring, as he racked up his fifth goal in all competitions, against Newcastle United in a 2–1 defeat at Villa Park. [42] However his brilliant early season form was abruptly ended, as he was injured in the next match against Norwich City. It was later confirmed that he would be out for up to six weeks with a hip flexor injury. [43] However, he made his comeback earlier than expected, after coming on as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur a month later in a 2–0 defeat. [44]

After loss of form and nagging injuries prevented Benteke scoring for 12 games (his last goal being against Newcastle on 14 September), he eventually ended his drought against Arsenal in a 1–2 defeat on 13 January 2014. [45] [46] He followed this up with goals in back-to-back games against Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion, in a 2–2 draw and 4–3 victory respectively. [47] [48] Having not scored throughout February, the Belgian then scored a superb overhead volley as well as a header, in an eventual 4–1 home victory against Norwich City on 2 March. [49]

On 3 April 2014, Benteke suffered a rupture of his achilles tendon while training and was ruled out for at least six months, missing the remainder of the season and the 2014 FIFA World Cup. [50]

2014–15 season

On 2 November 2014, Benteke was given a straight red card by referee Neil Swarbrick for pushing the face of Tottenham Hotspur's Ryan Mason after Mason had stuck his face in Benteke's chest. Villa had been winning at the time, but went on to lose 2–1. [51] The incident led to both clubs being fined £20,000 by The FA for failing to keep their players under control. [52]

He scored his second goal of the season against Manchester United in a 1–1 draw at Villa Park. [53] It took him until early March to score his next goal, a 94th-minute penalty in a local derby against rivals West Bromwich Albion. [54] On 7 April, he scored his second Premier League hat-trick in a 3–3 draw with Queens Park Rangers. [55] Twelve days later, he equalised as Villa came from behind to defeat Liverpool and reach the 2015 FA Cup Final, their first for fifteen years. [56] On 2 May, he scored twice in a 3–2 win at home to Everton, taking him to a total of eleven goals in nine matches since the arrival of Tim Sherwood as manager. [57] Six days later, Benteke was announced as the Premier League Player of the Month for April. [58] [59] He played the full 90 minutes in the FA Cup Final as Villa lost 4–0 to Arsenal, being beaten to a header by Per Mertesacker for the third goal of the rout. [60]

Liverpool

On 22 July 2015, Liverpool completed the signing of Benteke on a "long-term contract" after meeting his release clause of £32.5 million, at the time making him their second most expensive transfer ever. [61] He made his debut on 2 August in a pre-season friendly at Swindon Town, putting Liverpool into the lead with a volley as they went on to win 2–1. [62]

On 9 August, Benteke made his competitive debut by starting in a 1–0 win at Stoke City. [63] Eight days later he scored his first league goal for Liverpool in a 1–0 home win over newly promoted Bournemouth. [64] On 12 September, he scored an overhead kick in a 3–1 defeat to rivals Manchester United. [65]

After missing several games through injury, Benteke returned to score in consecutive games as a substitute on 25 and 31 October: a 1–1 draw against Southampton [66] and a 3–1 away win against Chelsea. [67] On 26 December, he replaced compatriot Divock Origi in the first half of a home fixture against league leaders Leicester City, and scored the only goal in a victory that curtailed the visitors' nine-game unbeaten run. [68]

On 8 January 2016, Benteke was named as captain for Liverpool's FA Cup third round tie with Exeter City at St James Park. [69]

On 11 May 2016, Benteke scored his tenth goal of his only season at Liverpool with a 92nd-minute equaliser in the team's final home game of 2015–16, a 1–1 draw with Chelsea. [70] Benteke was often found on the bench because he wasn't fitting into Jürgen Klopp's style of play. Because of this, he ended his stint at Liverpool after making 42 appearances and scoring 10 goals. [71]

Crystal Palace

On 20 August 2016, fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace completed the signing of Benteke on a four-year deal for a fee of £27m which could rise by a further £5m, bringing the total fee to £32m. [72] [73] On 10 September 2016, Benteke scored his first goal for Palace in a 2–1 victory against Middlesbrough, in his second league game. [74] On 24 September 2016, Benteke headed home a goal against Sunderland in the 94th minute to cap Palace's comeback from 2–0 down to win 3–2. [75] On 3 December 2016 (Benteke's birthday), he scored twice in a 3–0 win over Southampton that ended Palace's run of six consecutive defeats. [76] Benteke marked his return to Anfield, the ground of his former club Liverpool, with two goals in a 2–1 win on 23 April 2017. [77] He finished his first season with Palace as their top-scorer, with 15 league goals and 17 in total.

The next season was less successful, with Benteke not scoring until December, [78] and finishing the season with just three league goals in 30 appearances. In an injury-affected 2018–19 season, Benteke scored once in 19 appearances in all competitions and had not scored by October of the 2019–20 campaign. [79] Despite this loss of form, in that same month, he signed a contract extension keeping him at Crystal Palace until the end of the 2020–21 season. [80]

On 16 May 2021, Benteke headed in a goal against his former club Aston Villa as Palace twice came from a goal-behind to win 3–2. It was Benteke's 31st headed goal in the Premier League, joining the top-10 all-time list, equal with Tim Cahill. [81] With a goal against Arsenal in Palace's next match, Benteke scored in four consecutive Premier League games for the first time in over eight years. [82]

In June 2021, Benteke signed a further contract extension until the end of the 2022–23 season. [83]

D.C. United

In August 2022, Benteke signed for MLS club D.C. United as a Designated Player on a two-and-a-half year contract. [84] On 18 September 2022, Benteke scored his first goal for DC United in a 1–0 win over Inter Miami CF. He ended the 2022 season with D.C. United tallying one goal in seven appearances. [85] On 29 April 2023, in a game against Charlotte FC, Benteke scored an over-the-head bicycle kick to lead D.C. United to a 3–1 win. Benteke received his first MLS Goal of the Matchday for his goal and was named to MLS Team of the Matchday, his third of the season. [86] On 23 September, Benteke netted his first hat-trick for the club in a 5–3 loss to the New York Red Bulls. [87] He finished his first full season with D.C. tallying 14 goals in 31 appearances. [88] In the opening game of the 2024 MLS season on 24 February 2024, Benteke scored a hat-trick against rival club New England Revolution, securing a 3–1 victory. [89]

International career

Benteke with Belgium in 2013 Christian Benteke.JPG
Benteke with Belgium in 2013

Benteke was a member of the Belgium U17 team at the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in South Korea where he played three games and scored once. [90]

On 19 May 2010, he made his senior debut for the Belgium national team in a friendly match against Bulgaria in Brussels after his former coach at Kortrijk, Georges Leekens, became national coach. On 15 August 2012, he scored his first goal in a 4–2 win against the Netherlands. Since then, he has become a regular starter for Belgium under Marc Wilmots. On 29 May 2013, he scored twice in a 4–2 friendly victory against the United States in Cleveland, Ohio. [91]

He scored two goals in seven appearances during qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, [92] but was ruled out of the tournament finals with a ruptured Achilles tendon. [93]

Benteke returned to Belgium's squad for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, scoring his first international goal for two years in a 5–0 defeat of Cyprus on 28 March 2015. [94] He was selected for the final tournament in France, and made his tournament debut in the second group game on 18 June, replacing Romelu Lukaku for the last seven minutes of a 3–0 win over the Republic of Ireland in Bordeaux. [95] He played three more minutes in place of the same player four days later in a victory over Sweden, [96] but took no further part as the Belgians reached the quarter-finals and lost to Wales. On 10 October 2016, Benteke set a record for the fastest goal in a World Cup match—either qualifying or the finals—when he scored after 8.1 seconds against Gibraltar in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match, breaking the 23-year-old record previously held by Davide Gualtieri. [97] [98] He scored twice more to complete his first hat-trick for Belgium. [99]

He was left out of the final Belgium 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup despite initially being named in the preliminary squad. [100]

On 17 May 2021, Benteke was included in the final 26-man squad for the re-arranged UEFA Euro 2020. [101]

Personal life

Benteke is a Christian and supports Arsenal. [102] [103]

Media

Benteke's goal celebration, which features him beating his chest, is taken from LeBron James. The celebration appears in EA Sports' video game FIFA 18 . [104]

Career statistics

Club

Benteke playing for Aston Villa in 2013 Christian Benteke, Aston Villa striker (10679803106).jpg
Benteke playing for Aston Villa in 2013
As of match played 13 April 2024 [79]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup [lower-alpha 1] League cup [lower-alpha 2] ContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Genk 2007–08 Belgian Pro League 7100—00—71
2008–09 Belgian Pro League3000———30
Total10100—00—101
Standard Liège 2008–09 Belgian Pro League9300—2 [lower-alpha 3] 0—113
2010–11 Belgian Pro League5000———50
2011–12 Belgian Pro League4000—4 [lower-alpha 4] 01 [lower-alpha 5] 090
Total18300—6010253
Kortrijk (loan) 2009–10 Belgian Pro League341442———3816
Mechelen (loan) 2010–11 Belgian Pro League18621———207
Genk 2011–12 Belgian Pro League321610—00—3316
2012–13 Belgian Pro League5300—3 [lower-alpha 6] 1—84
Total371910—31—4120
Aston Villa 2012–13 Premier League 34190054——3923
2013–14 Premier League26101011——2811
2014–15 Premier League29135200——3415
Total89426265——10149
Liverpool 2015–16 Premier League29940207 [lower-alpha 6] 1—4210
Crystal Palace 2016–17 Premier League36152220——4017
2017–18 Premier League3130000——313
2018–19 Premier League1613000——191
2019–20 Premier League2420010——252
2020–21 Premier League30101000——3110
2021–22 Premier League2545010——314
Total1623511240——17737
D.C. United 2022 MLS 71————71
2023 MLS311400——3 [lower-alpha 7] 03414
2024 MLS6600——0066
Total442100——304721
Career total44114928712516240501163
  1. ↑ Includes Belgian Cup, FA Cup
  2. ↑ Includes Football League/EFL Cup
  3. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Cup
  4. ↑ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ↑ Appearance in Belgian Super Cup
  6. 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  7. ↑ Appearances in Leagues Cup

International

Benteke playing for Belgium in 2013 Christian Benteke vs USA 1.jpg
Benteke playing for Belgium in 2013
As of match played 29 March 2022 [105] [106]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Belgium 201030
201100
201264
201382
201430
201551
201663
201722
201810
201933
202010
202152
202221
Total4518
As of match played 29 March 2022 [105]
Scores and results list Belgium's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Benteke goal.
List of international goals scored by Christian Benteke
No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
115 August 2012 King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium5Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 1–04–2 Friendly
212 October 2012 Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia7Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 1–03–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
316 October 2012King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium8Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1–02–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
414 November 2012 Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania9Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 1–01–2Friendly
529 May 2013 FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, United States12Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2–14–2Friendly
64–1
728 March 2015King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium20Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 2–05–0 UEFA Euro 2016 qualification
810 October 2016 Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé, Portugal30Flag of Gibraltar.svg  Gibraltar 1–06–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
93–0
105–0
1128 March 2017 Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi, Russia32Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 1–23–3Friendly
121–3
1310 October 2019King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium35Flag of San Marino.svg  San Marino 7–09–0 UEFA Euro 2020 qualification
1419 November 2019King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium37Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 1–16–1UEFA Euro 2020 qualification
156–1UEFA Euro 2020 qualification
1630 March 2021 Den Dreef, Leuven, Belgium39Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus 6–08–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
1713 November 2021 King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium43

Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia

1–03–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification
1829 March 2022 Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht, Belgium45

Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso

3–03–0Friendly
Note that the friendly of Belgium against Romania on 14 November 2012 is not an FIFA A-match due to an excessive number of substitutions according to the Laws of the Game. [107]

Honours

Standard Liège

Aston Villa

Liverpool

Individual

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References

  1. ↑ "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/09/2012 and 30/09/2012". The Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  2. ↑ "Christian Benteke". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  3. ↑ Wallace, Sam (9 November 2012). "Christian Benteke: Street football took brilliant Belgians to top". The Independent. London.
  4. ↑ "Christian Benteke". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016.
  5. ↑ Sam Wallace (9 November 2012). "Christian Benteke: Street football took brilliant Belgians to top". The Independent. London.
  6. ↑ "Benteke: Why my story shows how football unites - News". Crystal Palace F.C. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  7. ↑ "Christian Benteke volgt Bolat". Article.wn.com.
  8. ↑ "Standard champion !". DH.be (in French). 24 May 2009.
  9. ↑ Footgoal.Net. "Officiel : Benteke à Courtrai, Van Hout au Standard". Footgoal.net. Archived from the original on 10 August 2009.
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  11. ↑ "Benteke verhuist van Standard naar Genk". Sporza (in Dutch). 29 August 2011. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  12. ↑ "Christian Benteke | Age 21". WhoScored.com.
  13. ↑ "Aston Villa ready to abandon bid for Genk's Christian Benteke". The Guardian. 30 August 2012.
  14. ↑ Stuart James (1 September 2012). "Aston Villa sign £7m Christian Benteke but are forced to defend transfers". The Guardian. London.
  15. ↑ "Aston Villa 2–0 Swansea". BBC Sport. 15 September 2012.
  16. ↑ "Aston Villa 1–1 Norwich". BBC Sport. 27 October 2012.
  17. ↑ "Swindon 2–3 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 30 October 2012.
  18. ↑ "Aston Villa 1–0 Reading". BBC Sport. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  19. ↑ "Norwich 1–4 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
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