Karim Benzema, the French football star who plays for the Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad, has shared a video of himself performing Umrah in Mecca, the holiest city in Islam,
In the video, which he posted on his Instagram account, Benzema can be seen wearing the white ihram clothing and walking around the Kaaba, the black cube-shaped structure that Muslims face when they pray. He captioned the post: "The only truth, Thank God" (L'Unique Verite #Alhamdulillah).
Benzema also shared a picture of himself on his Instagram story, writing in French that translates to "very happy" (Tres heureux). The 35-year-old striker, who won the 2022 Ballon d'Or award for the best player in the world, expressed his gratitude for being able to perform Umrah and live in Saudi Arabia, a Muslim country that he said he has always wanted to live in.
Benzema joined Al Ittihad in June 2023, after spending 14 years with Real Madrid, where he won five Champions League titles and scored 238 goals in 439 appearances. He signed a three-year contract with the Saudi club, which reportedly pays him $30 million per year. He made his debut for Al Ittihad in July 2023 during the King Salman Club Cup games.
Benzema's video of performing Umrah has received more than 2,9 million likes and thousands of comments from his fans and fellow Muslims, who praised him for his devotion and wished him peace and blessings. Some of his teammates from Al Ittihad also commented on his post.
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