Karim Benzema Reportedly Deletes Instagram Account Hours After Losing to Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in Saudi

• Karim Benzema is no longer on the photo-sharing app Instagram
• The Frenchman took the decision hours after Al-Ittihad's recent loss
• His side suffered a 5-2 thrashing at the hands of Ronaldo's Al-Nassr

Karim Benzema reportedly took action on his Instagram account hours after his team's defeat against Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League showdown.

This summer, the French striker joined Al-Ittihad, following in the footsteps of Ronaldo, who made the odd yet lucrative move to the Gulf country, aiming for a fresh start away from European football.

Benzema's woes in Saudi Arabia

Unfortunately, Benzema's tenure with the Jeddah-based team hasn't gone smoothly. They faced an early exit from the Arab Cup before the league's commencement.

As if that was not enough, Ittihad's league campaign has been lacklustre, languishing in sixth place, 15 points behind second-placed team Al-Nassr and a staggering 22 points off the league leaders, Al-Hilal.

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Adding to the woes, the Tigers' journey in the FIFA Club World Cup was cut short in the quarterfinals by Al Ahly, with Benzema missing a penalty during the game.

Ronaldo's Al-Nassr smash Benzema and Al Ittihad

In a crucial league fixture against Ronaldo's Al-Nassr, Benzema's team faced a resounding defeat, losing 5-2 at the King Abdullah City Stadium on Boxing Day.

Despite contributing an assist for their opening goal, his fifth of the campaign, per Transfermarkt, he was also at fault for one of Ronaldo's goals from a penalty.

Benzema deletes Instagram account

Following this humbling loss, the former Ballon d'Or winner seemingly succumbed to the pressure, as reports suggest he either deleted or suspended his Instagram account, which had 76 million followers.

As it stands now, the reason behind the Frenchman's choice remains uncertain, leaving speculation about whether it's a temporary break from social media.

According to talkSPORT, Benzema ranked as the fifth most-followed footballer on the platform, with only Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe boasting higher numbers of followers.

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Ronaldo, Benzema reunite in Saudi

Sports Brief also highlighted a heartwarming video capturing Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema sharing a warm embrace.

This highly anticipated event occurred just before the Al-Ittihad vs. Al-Nassr clash, reuniting the two Real Madrid legends during the Tuesday night Saudi Pro League match.