During an Instagram live session with his friend, the rapper Roff, Al-Hilal's 38-year-old French attacker Karim Benzema stated that he will never return to Olympique Lyonnais as a player. The former Real Madrid player and 2022 Ballon d'Or winner said that he could not go back. Benzema clarified that it is possible for him to work at the club after his retirement from professional football, but not as a player. The centre-forward joined the Saudi club in February 2026 and his contract is valid until June 2027. He has been capped 97 times for France, scoring 37 goals, and has a current market value of €6.00m, according to Transfermarkt.