Karim Benzema becomes fourth-highest scorer in La Liga history: Stats

Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema scored a sensational hat-trick in his side's 4-2 win over Almeria on matchday 32 of the La Liga 2022-23 season. With this feat, Benzema has now raced to 236 La Liga goals, becoming the fourth-highest scorer in the history of the competition. He surpassed Hugo Sanchez's tally of 234 goals. Here we present the key stats.

Lionel Messi tops the chart in La Liga with 474 goals for Barcelona (520 appearances). Cristiano Ronaldo managed 311 goals for Real in 292 matches. Telmo Zarra's tally of 251 is the third-best. He achieved the mark with Athletic Club.

Benzema has surpassed the 350-goal mark for Real Madrid. He now has 352 goals from 642 appearances in all competitions. In the ongoing season, the Frenchman has netted 29 goals from 37 games, including 17 in La Liga. Benzema has now scored 15-plus goals in La Liga for the fifth successive season and 10 overall.

Benzema has become just the second player after Ronaldo to smash 350-plus goals for Real. Ronaldo went on to net a record 450 goals for Los Blancos in 438 appearances.

Benzema netted his third hat-trick for Real across competitions in April. He has registered hat-tricks versus Real Valladolid, Barcelona, and now Almeria. Benzema now has five career hat-tricks in La Liga.

Benzema scored two close-range finishes as Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo provided precise cutbacks. Lucas Vazquez was fouled by Largie Ramazani and Benzema got his third, converting from the spot. He completed a first-half treble. Rodrygo scored for Real in the 47th minute after Almeria pulled a goal back in the dying seconds of the first half. Substitute Lucas Robertone scored a consolation goal (61').