5 Footballers Who Never Received a Red Card, Including Karim Benzema

• France forward, Karim Benzema has left Europe without receiving a single red card
• The 35-year-old forward played 893 games for Real Madrid and Lyon throughout his career in Europe
• Benzema joins ex-Real Madrid teammate, Raul and Barcelona icon, Andreas Iniesta on the list

Karim Benzema has joined the list of football legends that never picked up a single red card throughout their professional careers in Europe.

The 2021 Ballon d’Or winner ended his 14-year stint with Real Madrid this summer after sealing a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad for megabucks.

To achieve the feat of not being red-carded throughout a footballer’s career is regarded as one of the most remarkable achievements in the sport, as very few players can boast of never being sent off.

Even the football greats like Pele, Diego Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi have all been red-carded in a football game in their careers.

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Here, Sports Brief, alongside the Daily Mirror, lists the top five footballers who have yet to receive a red card throughout their professional careers.

5. Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema’s disciplinary record is unrivalled.

The Frenchman enjoyed an illustrious career in Europe, winning numerous trophies while playing just under 900 matches for Real Madrid and Lyon.

Benzema has been carded just 16 times throughout his illustrious career.

15 of those came at club level, in the colours of Lyon and Real Madrid, while one arrived in the blue of France. But the Frenchman has never received a red card before signing for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad.

4. Andres Iniesta

Andres Iniesta is no stranger to the referee's notebook, having received 67 yellow cards in his club career and five in his 131 Spain appearances.

However, as a senior professional, the former Barcelona midfielder has never seen red in over 900 games.

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Given his position on the field, the stat feels even more impressive. It's one thing to escape the penalty when you're frequently on the receiving end of movements, but doing so while playing in the centre of the park shows some incredible timing and self-control.

3. Philipp Lahm

Next on the list is Germany legend, Phillip Lahm.

Many regarded Lahm as a gentleman on the field, and he was the type of player you'd want on your team, One of those reasons was that you could always count on him to be on the field come full-time.

Lahm made a total of 448 matches in club competitions for Bayern Munich and Stuttgart and represented the German national team over 100 times, winning the World Cup in 2014.

The versatile defender had a total of 30 yellow cards received throughout his career, but was never red-carded.

2. Gary Lineker

Gary Lineker was known for being one of football's nice guys, and that's down to his disciplinary record as much as anything else.

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Lineker was not only never sent off, but the former England midfielder was never even issued a yellow card during his club and country career, which spanned more than 500 games.

1. Raul Gonzalez

Raul Gonzalez went more than 20 years as a professional footballer without receiving a red card.

The ex-Real Madrid and Schalke 04 captain is regarded as a meek footballer who never got into trouble with match officials.

Raul spent 16 years playing for Real Madrid and is the club's second all-time top goalscorer with 323 goals. He is also the most capped player in the history of the club with 741 appearances, ahead of Manolo Sanchís.

The ex-Real Madrid star received 50 bookings in his career, but was never sent off during a game for club and country.

Benzema’s jersey number at Al-Ittihad

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Karim Benzema will wear the No. 9 shirt at Al-Ittihad after the club unveiled him on Thursday, June 8.

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Benzema, who has become synonymous with the coveted shirt number, joined the Saudi champions after bringing an end to his 14-year stint with Real Madrid at the end of the season.

He is the first signing for Al-Ittihad since they pipped Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr to the Saudi Pro League.