Karim Benzema has been playing Paris Saint-Germain for nearly 16 years now. At first, it was easy.
In 2006, at the age of 19, the suede-headed, Ronaldo Nazario-adoring kid with eight brothers and sisters from a tough Lyon suburb first set his remorseless, hungry eyes on the red and blue of the capital club, only 16 years older than he is. On the eve of the 2006-07 season, in the Trophee des Champions, Benzema scored an equalising goal in a contest that finished 1-1 after 120 minutes and OL won on penalties.