Wahida Djebbara, born on August 24, 1957, is the mother of Karim Benzema, the accomplished French footballer, who is currently 65 years old.
Attaining celebrity status due to her son’s prominence in football, Karim Mostafa Benzema is a highly regarded French international player currently representing La Liga football club Real Madrid. He recently received the prestigious 2022 Ballon d’Or award, being recognized as the best footballer of the year on October 18, 2022.
Following this momentous achievement, where the Real Madrid striker became the first Frenchman to win French Football’s top award since Zinedine Zidane, there has been significant interest in his family and background. This exploration begins with his mother, Wahida Djebbara.
Summary of Wahida Djebbara’s Bio
- Full Name: Wahida Djebbara
- Gender: Female
- Date of Birth: August 24, 1957
- Place of Birth: Lyon, France
- Wahida Djebbara’s Age: 65 years old
- Ethnicity: African
- Nationality: French
- Zodiac Sign: Virgo
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Islam
- Marital Status: Married
- Wahida Djebbara’s Husband: Hafid Benzema
- Wahida Djebbara’s Children: 9-Karim Benzema has a family that includes his sons Sabri, Gressy, and Farid, along with his daughters Lydia, Celia, Laeticia, Sofia, and Nafissa.
- Hair Color: Black
- Eye Color: Black
- Famous for:
- As the mother of the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner, Karim Mostafa Benzema, Wahida Djebbara has roots tracing back to Algeria. Born on August 24, 1957, in Lyon, France, she proudly identifies as a French citizen.
- However, what might be less known to some is that the mother of the four-time French Footballer of the Year has an African ethnic heritage rooted in her Algerian ancestry.
- Wahida Djebbara’s parents originally hail from Oran, a city on the northwest coast of North Africa. They reportedly migrated to Lyon, France, in the 1950s, where Wahida Djebbara and her siblings were born. Aside from their Algerian heritage, there is little information available about Wahida’s parents and siblings.
- It is confirmed that Wahida Djebbara was raised in a devout Islamic family, and she continues to actively practice the religion. Regarding her formal educational background, there is currently no information available about the extent of education Wahida pursued in her formative years or in subsequent years.
- Wahida Djebbara has been happily married for over 30 years. Details about the early years of her relationship with Karim Benzema’s father, Hafid Benzema, such as when they first met or when they officially became husband and wife, remain undisclosed.
- There are unverified reports suggesting that they exchanged marital vows in a traditional Islamic ceremony. Despite the uncertain beginnings, Wahida Djebbara and her husband, Hafid Benzema, have been a married couple for over 30 years and continue to navigate through various challenges together.
Wahida Djebbara and her husband have nurtured a sizable family of eleven, with nine children born during their extensive yet successful marriage. The most widely recognized of her offspring is Karim Mostafa Benzema, born on December 19, 1987, in Lyon, France, and honored as the 2022 Ballon d’Or recipient.
In addition to the renowned Karim Benzema, Wahida Djebbara has three sons: Sabri Benzema, Gressy Benzema, and Farid Benzema, along with five daughters: Lydia Benzema, Celia Benzema, Laeticia Benzema, Sofia Benzema, and Nafissa Benzema.
Despite the common tendency for large families to grow apart, the Benzema family has remained united through life’s challenges, demonstrating a strong bond and passion for one another.
The family’s togetherness is evident through their frequent family gatherings and consistent posts showcasing their mutual affection on virtual platforms. While Karim Benzema stands out as the most famous among his siblings, his influence has also contributed to the success of two of his three brothers in the field of football.
Wahida Djebbara has largely kept her life away from the spotlight, and consequently, there is limited information about her source of income.
It is plausible to suggest that she may be a homemaker, given the cohesive and well-maintained family life she has cultivated. Her husband and children, including Karim Benzema, express gratitude for the pivotal role she played in their lives. Karim often acknowledges her contributions in his speeches.
For those familiar with the Benzema family during their time in Bron, a challenging neighborhood in Lyon, Wahida Djebbara’s efforts to keep her children, including the initially reserved Benzema, safe from the surrounding challenges are commendable.
Assisted by her husband, Hafid Benzema, who had a reputation as a stern disciplinarian, she successfully navigated the upbringing of numerous children. While Karim was known for his unruly behavior in his early years, enrolling in a Catholic school marked a transformative phase in his youth.
Wahida Djebbara and her husband played crucial roles in steering Karim Benzema toward success at every stage of his illustrious career. An illustrative instance is when his hometown club, Bron Terraillon SC, initially resisted releasing him to Olympique Lyonnais’ academy in 1997.
To finalize the deal, the involvement of Benzema’s parents was crucial. The subsequent events have become part of history.
Karim Benzema’s football journey has not always been smooth. He encountered various challenges, including the infamous sex tape and extortion scandal with former French international Mathieu Valbuena, resulting in his exclusion from the French National team for a considerable period.
The support he received from his mother, Wahida Djebbara, and other members of his family played a vital role during this challenging period. Consequently, it was particularly fitting that she was physically present at the award ceremony where her son received the 2022 Ballon d’Or.
This accolade recognized his outstanding performance with Real Madrid and the French national team, securing qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.