Benzema’s surprise shirt-swap request with MC Alger midfielder goes viral after Al Hilal loss

Karin Benzema asking an opposing player for his shirt after Al Hilal’s friendly defeat by MC Alger has gone viral, with the French striker catching midfielder Charef-Eddine Boukhlada completely off guard.

The Saudi Pro League side were beaten 2-0 by the Algerian club in a pre-season friendly, but attention quickly shifted from the result to Benzema’s post-match gesture towards Boukhlada, who holds dual Algerian and French nationality.

At the final whistle, the Al Hilal captain agreed to give Boukhlada his shirt – a routine request from a player facing one of the most high-profile forwards of his generation. But Benzema then surprised the 30-year-old by asking for his shirt in return.

In footage shared by MC Alger’s official account on X, Boukhlada, visibly taken aback, responds: “هل تريد ان اعطيك قميصي؟!” (“Do you want me to give you my shirt?!”). The brief exchange, widely shared on social media, was viewed as a sign of mutual respect between the two players.

Shirt swap continues in dressing room

The interaction did not end on the pitch. The video shows the shirt swap being completed later inside the dressing rooms, where Boukhlada brings his MC Alger jersey to Benzema. The former Real Madrid forward appears relaxed, smiling as he receives the shirt and chats with the midfielder after the match.

The moment has been highlighted by fans as an example of Benzema’s appreciation for fellow professionals, regardless of the level or profile of the opponent, and has overshadowed discussion of the friendly’s scoreline.

Boukhlada’s route to MC Alger

Boukhlada, 30, came through the youth system at Monaco, progressing in the French club’s academy before moving on to play for Lille’s reserve side. He has since had several spells outside France, eventually joining MC Alger, one of Algeria’s most historic clubs.

The meeting with Al Hilal offered him the chance to face Benzema, who remains one of the game’s most recognisable names after a decorated career in European football, most notably with Real Madrid.

Benzema’s recent move to Al Hilal

Benzema, 38, joined Al Hilal in February on a contract running until June 2027, adding significant star power to the Saudi club’s already high-profile squad.

However, the France international has endured a challenging spell physically. He struggled with a series of fitness issues towards the end of last season, which restricted his involvement in the league. During that period, he was able to feature in only 10 of Al Hilal’s 16 league matches.

The friendly against MC Alger formed part of Al Hilal’s preparations as they look ahead to the new campaign and aim to keep Benzema fit for a full season.

Saudi Arabia extends role as host of elite competition

In a separate development, it has been officially confirmed that Saudi Arabia will continue to stage the decisive phases of an elite league competition, maintaining the country’s growing role as a hub for major football events.

The announcement underlines Saudi Arabia’s ongoing strategy of using high-profile football and international tournaments to enhance its sporting portfolio, with clubs such as Al Hilal and imported stars like Benzema central to that project.