Christian Benteke

Christian Benteke: A Brief Biography

Christian Benteke Liolo, known professionally as Christian Benteke, is a talented Belgian football player. He comes to fame for playing as a striker for Major League Soccer club D.C. United and the Belgium national team. Benteke's football journey began in the youth team of JS Pierreuse before moving on to play for Standard Liege and Genk. After rejoining Standard Liege in January 2009, he had a loan spell at KV Kortrijk during the 2009-2010 season and another loan spell at KV Mechelen during the 2010-2011 season. In August 2011, Benteke returned to Genk and later joined Crystal Palace on a four-year contract in August 2012, for a transfer fee of approximately £7 million. Benteke made a memorable debut for Aston Villa, scoring against Swansea City on 15 September 2012. He went on to score an impressive 42 goals in 89 appearances for Aston Villa across various competitions. He made his debut for Liverpool in a pre-season friendly against Swindon Town in August 2015 and his competitive debut against Stoke City a few days later, where he netted his first league goal against newly promoted Bournemouth. However, Benteke struggled to secure a consistent starting position under Jurgen Klopp's management, prompting his move back to Crystal Palace in August 2016 on a four-year deal worth £27 million. During his first season with Crystal Palace, Benteke emerged as the team's top scorer, tallying 15 goals in the league and 17 overall. Recently on April 29, 2023, Benteke showcased his exceptional skills by scoring an impressive over-the-head bicycle kick goal in a game against Charlotte FC, leading D.C. United to a 3-1 victory. His remarkable goal earned him the MLS Goal of the Matchday accolade and marked his third inclusion in the MLS Team of the Matchday for the season.

Early Life

Christian Benteke Liolo, known by his real name, was born on 3 December 1990 in Kinshasa, Zaire. He hails from African ethnicity and holds Belgian, Zairian, and Congolese nationality. Benteke's family was forced to flee during the Mobutu regime, eventually immigrating to Liege, Belgium in 1993. Benteke follows the Christian faith and his astrological sign is Sagittarius. His current age is 32 and he celebrates his every birthday on the 3rd December of every year. His father, Jean-Pierre Benteke, and his mother, Marie-Claire Benteke, raised him alongside his sister, Sara, and his younger brother, Jonathan, who is also involved in the world of football. 

Club Career

Standard Liege and Genk

• Christian Benteke embarked on his football journey in the youth ranks of JS Pierreuse and subsequently played for Standard Liege before transferring to Genk. He rejoined Standard in January 2009, contributing three goals in 12 matches as the club clinched the 2008-2009 Belgian championship. In a loan move on 7 August 2009, he joined KV Kortrijk for a season, showcasing his skills by netting 14 goals in the Belgian Pro League, including five goals during the championship play-offs, leading the club to its highest-ever finish.
• During the following season, Benteke was loaned to KV Mechelen as part of the transfer involving Aloys Nong, who moved from Mechelen to Standard Liege. However, Benteke's time at Mechelen proved to be less fruitful, scoring seven goals in 25 appearances. In August 2011, he returned to Genk from Standard for an undisclosed transfer fee. During the 2011-2012 season, he impressively notched 16 goals and provided nine assists in 20 starts.
• Following a strong start to the 2012-2013 season with three goals in five league matches, Benteke attracted attention from Aston Villa, who made a €6 million offer for his services in August 2012.

Aston Villa

• Benteke made a notable move to Aston Villa on 31 August 2012, signing a four-year contract for a reported fee of approximately £7 million. His debut for Villa came on 15 September 2012, where he made an instant impact by scoring in a 2-0 victory against Swansea City. Coming on as a substitute for Andreas Weimann, Benteke capitalized on a header from Ashley Williams, skillfully lifting the ball over the goalkeeper and tapping it in on the volley. His impressive performance earned praise from Villa manager Paul Lambert, who described him as "unplayable." Benteke continued to shine, scoring Villa's sole goal in a 1-1 draw with Norwich City and adding two more goals in a 3-2 triumph over Swindon Town in the League Cup.
• The Belgian striker maintained his excellent form by scoring the winning goal in a 1-0 Premier League victory against Reading on 27 November. In a League Cup match against Norwich City, Benteke contributed Villa's fourth goal in a convincing 4-1 win. He further showcased his talent with a remarkable brace in a memorable 3-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield, where he also provided an assist with a clever back-heel pass to Andreas Weimann. Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert hailed Benteke's exceptional performances, emphasizing his young age and consistent brilliance. Benteke's displays caught the attention of Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas, who regarded him as the "surprise package" of the season.
• After a goal drought of three matches, Benteke broke the deadlock by scoring Villa's first penalty kick in nearly a year during a 2-2 draw against Swansea City, marking Villa's first game of 2013. He continued to impress by unleashing a powerful 28-yard strike against West Bromwich Albion, which earned him a nomination for the goal of the month competition.
• Benteke's prolific scoring continued with crucial goals, including one in a League Cup semi-final victory over Bradford City. Despite Villa's defeat on aggregate, Benteke's performances were lauded by former England striker Michael Owen, who praised him as one of the signings of the season. Benteke remained consistent, finding the net against Newcastle United and netting a brace against Everton in a thrilling 3-3 draw.
• He reached the milestone of his 15th goal in all competitions and tallied six goals in five matches when he converted a penalty in a 2-1 victory against West Ham United on 10 February 2013. This win ended Villa's eight-game winless streak in the league since Benteke had inspired their victory against Liverpool back in December.
• Benteke's contributions continued, scoring a deflected goal in a 2-1 victory over Reading, which marked Villa's 1,000th goal in the Premier League. He secured a crucial goal in a 3-2 win over Queens Park Rangers and sealed a 3-1 victory against relegation rivals Stoke City. Benteke's impressive debut season led to his nomination for the PFA Young Player of the Year, finishing as a runner-up to Gareth Bale.
• On 29 April, Benteke reached new heights by scoring his first hat-trick for Aston Villa in a dominant 6-1 victory against Sunderland. These goals not only surpassed Dwight Yorke's record of 18 Premier League goals in a season by an Aston Villa player but also propelled him beyond the 20-goal mark in all competitions, becoming the first Villa player to achieve this since Juan Pablo Ángel in 2003-2004 season.
• However, in the subsequent match against Chelsea on 11 May, Benteke experienced a setback as he received his second yellow card for a high boot on John Terry, resulting in his dismissal and subsequent suspension for the last game of the season. Despite scoring Villa's only goal in a 2-1 loss, Benteke's sending-off dampened the end of his remarkable season.
• Benteke's impressive tally of 23 goals during the 2012-2013 season sparked speculation about his future, leading him to submit a transfer request in early July. Aston Villa made it clear that he would only be allowed to leave if the club's valuation was met. However, after discussions with manager Paul Lambert, Benteke withdrew his transfer request and instead signed a new four-year contract with the club. He showcased his skills during the pre-season, scoring a hat-trick against Crewe Alexandra and concluding with a total of seven goals in five appearances, including a brace against Málaga at Villa Park.

• The 2013-2014 season kicked off with a remarkable performance from Benteke as he scored twice, including a penalty and a rebounded header from a missed penalty, in Aston Villa's 3-1 victory over Arsenal. He continued his scoring form by finding the net against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but Villa suffered a 2-1 defeat.
• Benteke added to his goal tally in a comfortable 3-0 win against Rotherham United in the League Cup second round and scored his fifth goal in all competitions against Newcastle United. Unfortunately, his brilliant start was halted by a hip flexor injury sustained in the next match against Norwich City. Despite the initial diagnosis suggesting a six-week recovery period, Benteke made a comeback earlier than expected, appearing as a substitute in a 2-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur.
• A period of loss of form and recurring injuries resulted in Benteke going scoreless for 12 games until he ended the drought with a goal against Arsenal in a 1-2 defeat. He followed up with goals in consecutive games against Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion, contributing to a 2-2 draw and a 4-3 victory, respectively. After a goalless February, the Belgian striker made a memorable impact by scoring a superb overhead volley and a header in a commanding 4-1 home win over Norwich City on 2 March.
• Tragedy struck on 3 April 2014 when Benteke suffered an Achilles tendon rupture during training, ruling him out for at least six months and causing him to miss the remainder of the season as well as the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
• On 2 November 2014, Benteke received a straight red card for pushing Tottenham Hotspur's Ryan Mason in the face, although it was in response to Mason's actions. Villa was leading at the time but ultimately lost 2-1. The incident resulted in both clubs being fined £20,000 by The FA for failing to control their players.
• Benteke scored his second goal of the season against Manchester United in a 1-1 draw at Villa Park. He had to wait until early March for his next goal, a 94th-minute penalty in a local derby against West Bromwich Albion. On 7 April, he achieved his second Premier League hat-trick in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Queens Park Rangers.
• Twelve days later, he equalized as Villa came from behind to defeat Liverpool and secure a place in the 2015 FA Cup Final, their first appearance in fifteen years. Benteke continued his impressive form by scoring twice in a 3-2 home win over Everton, taking his total to eleven goals in nine matches since Tim Sherwood became the manager. As a result, he was named the Premier League Player of the Month for April. In the FA Cup Final, Benteke played the full 90 minutes as Villa suffered a 4-0 defeat against Arsenal, with Per Mertesacker beating him to a header for the third goal.

Liverpool

• Liverpool secured the signing of Benteke on 22 July 2015, agreeing to a "long-term contract" and meeting his release clause of £32.5 million, making him the club's second most expensive transfer at the time. He marked his debut on 2 August in a pre-season friendly against Swindon Town, scoring a volley that gave Liverpool a 2-1 victory.
• Benteke made his competitive debut on 9 August, starting in a 1-0 win over Stoke City. Just eight days later, he scored his first league goal for Liverpool, securing a 1-0 home victory against newly promoted Bournemouth. On 12 September, he showcased his acrobatic skills with an overhead kick in a 3-1 defeat to rivals Manchester United.
• Following a period of absence due to injury, Benteke made a comeback as a substitute and scored in consecutive games on 25 and 31 October. He found the back of the net in a 1-1 draw against Southampton and contributed to a 3-1 away win against Chelsea. On 26 December, he was brought on in the first half of a home match against league leaders Leicester City, replacing his compatriot Divock Origi, and scored the solitary goal that ended Leicester's unbeaten run of nine games.
• Benteke was honored with the captaincy for Liverpool's FA Cup third-round tie against Exeter City on 8 January 2016. On 11 May 2016, in the team's final home game of the 2015-2016 season, he scored his tenth goal for Liverpool, securing a 92nd-minute equalizer in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea. However, Benteke often found himself on the bench as he didn't quite fit into Jurgen Klopp's style of play. Consequently, he concluded his tenure at Liverpool after making 42 appearances and scoring 10 goals.

Crystal Palace

• Crystal Palace secured the signing of Benteke on 20 August 2016, as he joined the fellow Premier League club on a four-year deal. The initial fee for the transfer was £27 million, with the potential to increase by an additional £5 million, making the total fee reach £32 million.
• Benteke wasted no time in making an impact for Crystal Palace. On 10 September 2016, in just his second league game, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2-1 victory against Middlesbrough. Another notable moment came on 24 September 2016, when Benteke's header in the 94th minute completed Palace's remarkable comeback from a 2-0 deficit to secure a 3-2 win over Sunderland.
• Celebrating his birthday on 3 December 2016, Benteke showcased his talent by scoring two goals in a 3-0 triumph over Southampton, effectively ending Palace's six-match losing streak. Returning to his former club, Liverpool, on 23 April 2017, he once again displayed his prowess by scoring both goals in a 2-1 victory. Benteke concluded his first season with Crystal Palace as their top scorer, netting 15 goals in the league and 17 in total.
• However, the following season proved less successful for Benteke as he struggled to find the back of the net until December. Throughout the campaign, he managed only three league goals in 30 appearances. The subsequent 2018-2019 season was marred by injuries, limiting Benteke to just one goal in 19 appearances across all competitions. By October of the 2019-20 season, he had yet to score. Despite his loss of form, Benteke signed a contract extension in the same month, committing himself to Crystal Palace until the end of the 2020-2021 season.
• On 16 May 2021, Benteke scored a header against his former club, Aston Villa, contributing to Palace's comeback in a thrilling 3-2 victory. This goal marked his 31st headed goal in the Premier League, propelling him to the top-10 all-time list alongside Tim Cahill. Benteke continued his scoring streak by finding the net against Arsenal in Palace's next match, achieving the feat of scoring in four consecutive Premier League games for the first time in over eight years. In June 2021, Benteke extended his contract with Crystal Palace once again, ensuring his presence until the conclusion of the 2022-2023 season.

D.C. United

• Benteke made a significant move to D.C. United, an MLS club, becoming a Designated Player and signing a two-and-a-half-year contract in August 2022. His impact was felt on September 18, 2022, when Benteke netted his inaugural goal for D.C. United in a 1-0 victory over Inter Miami CF. During the MLS season, he represented D.C. United in seven matches and registered one goal.
• A memorable moment occurred on April 29, 2023, during a match against Charlotte FC, as Benteke executed an extraordinary bicycle kick to guide D.C. United to a 3-1 triumph. His remarkable goal earned him the title of MLS Goal of the Matchday and secured his inclusion in the MLS Team of the Matchday, marking his third selection of the season.

International career

• Benteke showcased his talents on the international stage, representing Belgium in various tournaments and qualifiers. In the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup held in South Korea, he played three matches and found the net once as a member of the Belgium U17 team.
• His senior national team debut came on 19 May 2010 in a friendly against Bulgaria, coinciding with Georges Leekens, his former coach at Kortrijk, taking charge of the national team. Benteke made an impact on 15 August 2012, scoring his first international goal in a 4–2 victory over the Netherlands. Since then, he has established himself as a regular starter for Belgium under the management of Marc Wilmots. Benteke's contributions continued, including a brace in a 4-2 friendly triumph against the United States in May 2013.
• During the qualification matches for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, he scored two goals in seven appearances. However, a devastating ruptured Achilles tendon prevented Benteke from participating in the tournament.
• Benteke returned to the Belgium squad for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, rediscovering his scoring touch with a goal in a 5–0 victory over Cyprus in March 2015. He earned a spot in the final tournament held in France, making his tournament debut as a substitute in a 3–0 win over the Republic of Ireland. He featured in two more matches as a substitute during the group stage. Although Belgium reached the quarter-finals, Benteke did not have further involvement. On 10 October 2016, he achieved a remarkable feat by scoring the fastest goal in either World Cup qualifiers or finals, finding the net after just 8.1 seconds against Gibraltar. This broke the 23-year-old record previously held by Davide Gualtieri. Benteke completed a memorable performance by scoring two more goals, securing his first international hat-trick.
• Despite initially being named in the preliminary squad, Benteke was ultimately left out of the final 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. However, on 17 May 2021, he received a call-up and was included in the final 26-man squad for the rescheduled UEFA Euro 2020.

Transfer History

• DC United on 4th August 2022
• Crystal Palace on 20th August 2016 at 31.2m euros
• Liverpool on 22nd July 2015 at 46.5m euros
• Aston Villa on 31st August 2012 at 8.8m euros
• KRC Genk on 31st August 2o11 at 1m euro
• Standard Liege on 30th June 2010 at the end of the loan
• KV Kortrijk on 7th August 2009 at loan
• Standard Liege on 1st January 2009 at 150K euros

Awards and Achievements

Standard Liege

• Belgian First Division: 2008-2009

Aston Villa

• FA Cup runner-up: 2014-2015

Liverpool

• Football League Cup runner-up: 2015-2016
• UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2015-2016

Individual

• Premier League Player of the Month: April 2015

Married Life: Christian Benteke's wife

Christian Benteke entered the realm of married life when he tied the knot with his long-term partner and girlfriend, Fortune Benteke, in an extravagant private ceremony held on 8 July 2017. The couple, blessed with two children named Jaden and Nylah, had kept their love affair discreet prior to their marriage. Their enduring bond and contentment reflect their commitment to each other, indicating a lack of involvement with other individuals. Christian Benteke's sexual orientation is heterosexual, aligning with his marital relationship with Fortune Benteke. They presently lead a joyous life together.

Christian Benteke's net worth 2023

Christian Benteke emerged through the ranks of Standard Liege and Genk, making his mark in the Belgian Pro League before making a significant move to England. In 2012, he signed a four-year contract with Aston Villa for a reported fee of approximately £7 million. Currently, his net worth is estimated to be around $47.2 million as of 2023, accompanied by an annual salary of $6.8 million. Subsequently, in 2015, he transferred to Liverpool, signing a long-term contract after meeting a release clause of £32.5 million. However, after a year, he made a switch to Crystal Palace, another Premier League club. Notably, Benteke primarily derives his substantial income from his successful football career.

Christian Benteke measurements

Christian Benteke possesses a towering height of 1.90m, which translates to approximately 6 feet 3 inches. Complementing his stature, he maintains a body weight of 83kg, showcasing his athletic physique. Accentuating his features, Benteke has captivating dark brown eyes and hair.