View source for Christian Benteke

{{short description|Belgian footballer (born 1990)}}
{{redirect|Benteke|his brother|Jonathan Benteke}}
{{family name hatnote|Benteke|Liolo|lang=Congolese}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Christian Benteke
| image = 2017 RUS v BEL exhibition - Christian Benteke (cropped).jpg
| caption = Benteke playing for [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] in 2017
| full_name = Christian Benteke Liolo<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/player-registration---august-2016.ashx |title=List of Players under Written Contract Transferred Between 01/08/2016 and 31/08/2016 |publisher=The Football Association |page=14 |access-date=1 September 2024}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|12|3|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/players/christian-benteke-236233/|title=Christian Benteke |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |access-date=12 September 2018}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Kinshasa]], Zaire
| height = 1.90 m<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolfc.com/team/first-team/player/christian-benteke|title=Christian Benteke|publisher=Liverpool F.C.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323040634/http://www.liverpoolfc.com/team/first-team/player/christian-benteke|archive-date=23 March 2016}}</ref>
| position = [[Striker (association football)|Striker]]
| currentclub = [[D.C. United]]
| clubnumber = 20
| youthyears1 = 1996–2004
| youthclubs1 = JS Pierreuse
| youthyears2 = 2004–2006
| youthclubs2 = [[Standard Liège]]
| youthyears3 = 2006–2007
| youthclubs3 = [[K.R.C. Genk|Genk]]
| years1 = 2007–2009
| clubs1 = [[K.R.C. Genk|Genk]]
| caps1 = 10
| goals1 = 1
| years2 = 2009–2011
| clubs2 = [[Standard Liège]]
| caps2 = 18
| goals2 = 3
| years3 = 2009–2010
| clubs3 = → [[K.V. Kortrijk|Kortrijk]] (loan)
| caps3 = 34
| goals3 = 14
| years4 = 2010–2011
| clubs4 = → [[K.V. Mechelen|Mechelen]] (loan)
| caps4 = 18
| goals4 = 6
| years5 = 2011–2012
| clubs5 = [[K.R.C. Genk|Genk]]
| caps5 = 37
| goals5 = 19
| years6 = 2012–2015
| clubs6 = [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]
| caps6 = 89
| goals6 = 42
| years7 = 2015–2016
| clubs7 = [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| caps7 = 29
| goals7 = 9
| years8 = 2016–2022
| clubs8 = [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]
| caps8 = 162
| goals8 = 35
| years9 = 2022–
| clubs9 = [[D.C. United]]
| caps9 = 80
| goals9 = 44
| nationalyears1 = 2007
| nationalteam1 = [[Belgium national under-17 football team|Belgium U17]]
| nationalcaps1 = 11
| nationalgoals1 = 6
| nationalyears2 = 2007–2008
| nationalteam2 = [[Belgium national under-18 football team|Belgium U18]]
| nationalcaps2 = 7
| nationalgoals2 = 3
| nationalyears3 = 2008–2009
| nationalteam3 = [[Belgium national under-19 football team|Belgium U19]]
| nationalcaps3 = 10
| nationalgoals3 = 10
| nationalyears4 = 2009–2012
| nationalteam4 = [[Belgium national under-21 football team|Belgium U21]]
| nationalcaps4 = 9
| nationalgoals4 = 4
| nationalyears5 = 2010–2022
| nationalteam5 = [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]]
| nationalcaps5 = 45
| nationalgoals5 = 18
| club-update = 00:39, 15 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 
}}
'''Christian Benteke Liolo''' (born 3 December 1990) is a Belgian professional [[association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[Striker (association football)|striker]] for [[Major League Soccer]] club [[D.C. United]].

Benteke began his career at [[Standard Liège]], playing a part in their [[2008–09 Belgian First Division]] triumph. Following a season at [[K.R.C. Genk|Genk]] he was signed for £7 million by Aston Villa. He scored 49 goals in 101 matches for Villa across all competitions. He spent a single season at Liverpool, scoring a total of 10 goals, before being transferred to Crystal Palace at the start of the 2016–17 season.

Benteke earned 45 caps for [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] between his debut in 2010 and 2022. He missed the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]] through injury, but was part of their team that reached the quarter-finals of [[UEFA Euro 2016]] and [[UEFA Euro 2020|Euro 2020]].

==Early life==
Benteke was born in [[Kinshasa]]<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/christian-benteke-street-football-took-brilliant-belgians-to-top-8298505.html | location=London | newspaper=The Independent | first=Sam | last=Wallace | title=Christian Benteke: Street football took brilliant Belgians to top | date=9 November 2012}}</ref> in 1990. He and his family fled during the [[Mobutu Sese Seko|Mobutu]] regime and in 1993 emigrated to [[Liège]], Belgium.<ref>{{cite news|author=Sam Wallace|work=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/christian-benteke-street-football-took-brilliant-belgians-to-top-8298505.html|title=Christian Benteke: Street football took brilliant Belgians to top|location=London|date=9 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Benteke: Why my story shows how football unites - News |url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/features/christian-benteke-on-belgium-learning-a-language-and-why-football-is-special/2022-06-05/ |access-date=6 June 2022 |website=Crystal Palace F.C. |date=5 June 2022 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Club career==
===Standard Liège and Genk===
Benteke played youth football for JS Pierreuse and later [[Standard Liège]] before moving to [[K.R.C. Genk|Genk]]. He rejoined Standard in January 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=http://article.wn.com/view/WNATb23a8af74ba369c45b1b97f597636c02/ |title=Christian Benteke volgt Bolat |publisher=Article.wn.com }}</ref> and scored three goals in 12 matches as the Walloon club won the [[2008–09 Belgian First Division|2008–09]] [[List of Belgian football champions|Belgian championship]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dhnet.be/sports/football/division1/standard/standard-champion-51b7afd3e4b0de6db987c419|title=Standard champion !|date=24 May 2009|language=fr|work=DH.be}}</ref> On 7 August 2009, he joined [[KV Kortrijk]] on loan for a season,<ref>{{cite web |author=Footgoal.Net |url=http://www.footgoal.net/suite.php?selection=42996 |title=Officiel : Benteke à Courtrai, Van Hout au Standard |publisher=Footgoal.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810074449/http://www.footgoal.net/suite.php?selection=42996 |archive-date=10 August 2009}}</ref> where he scored 14 goals in the [[2009–10 Belgian Pro League|Belgian Pro League]], including five goals in the [[2009–10 Belgian Pro League#Championship Playoff|championship play-offs]], as the club achieved its best ever finish.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/analysis-liverpool-fc-match-winner-9885143|title=Analysis: Liverpool FC match winner Benteke reaches 50 Premier League goals|date=19 August 2015|work=Liverpool Echo}}</ref>

He spent the following season on loan at [[KV Mechelen]] as part of the transfer of [[Aloys Nong]], who moved from Mechelen to Standard Liège. Benteke's spell at Mechelen was less successful, with seven goals from 25 appearances. He returned to Genk from Standard in August 2011 for an undisclosed fee,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/voetbal/Jupiler_Pro_League/1.1098745|title=Benteke verhuist van Standard naar Genk|date=29 August 2011|language=nl|work=Sporza|access-date=8 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308131751/http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/voetbal/Jupiler_Pro_League/1.1098745|archive-date=8 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> and went on to score 16 goals and register nine assists in 20 starts during the [[2011–12 Belgian Pro League|2011–12 season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whoscored.com/Players/68312/ |title=Christian Benteke &#124; Age 21 |publisher=WhoScored.com }}</ref>

After beginning the [[2012–13 Belgian Pro League|2012–13]] season with three goals from five league matches, Benteke was subject of an offer of €6m from [[Premier League]] club [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] in August 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/aug/29/aston-villa-genk-christian-benteke|title=Aston Villa ready to abandon bid for Genk's Christian Benteke|date=30 August 2012|work=The Guardian}}</ref>

===Aston Villa===
====2012–13 season====
On [[2012–13 Aston Villa F.C. season|31 August 2012]], Benteke joined Premier League club [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] on a four-year contract for a fee believed to be around £7 million.<ref>{{cite news|author=Stuart James |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/sep/01/aston-villa-sign-christian-benteke |title=Aston Villa sign £7m Christian Benteke but are forced to defend transfers |newspaper=The Guardian |date=1 September 2012 |location=London}}</ref>

On 15 September 2012, Benteke scored on his debut for Aston Villa in a 2–0 win against [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]], after coming on as a substitute for Austrian forward [[Andreas Weimann]]. The goal came when Swansea defender [[Ashley Williams (footballer)|Ashley Williams]] headed the ball into Benteke's path, which he then lifted over the keeper and tapped in on the volley. Villa manager [[Paul Lambert]] praised Benteke's performance on his debut calling him "unplayable".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19528067 |title=Aston Villa 2–0 Swansea |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 September 2012}}</ref> He then scored Villa's only goal in a 1–1 home draw with [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20014232 |title=Aston Villa 1–1 Norwich |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 October 2012}}</ref> He added a further two goals to his tally during a 3–2 victory over [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] in the [[2012–13 Football League Cup|League Cup]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20053684 |title=Swindon 2–3 Aston Villa |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 October 2012}}</ref> He scored the winner in a 1–0 Premier League victory for Villa against [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] at [[Villa Park]] on 27 November to continue his impressive start in [[Football in England|English football]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20405324 |title=Aston Villa 1–0 Reading |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 November 2012 |access-date= 16 December 2012}}</ref>

Benteke then scored Villa's fourth goal in a 4–1 League Cup win over Norwich City at [[Carrow Road]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20590506 |title=Norwich 1–4 Aston Villa |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 December 2012|access-date=16 December 2012}}</ref> Benteke further added to his impressive start in Premier League football by scoring two goals in Villa's 3–1 win against [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] at [[Anfield]] on 15 December. In addition to the two goals, he also assisted Villa's second goal with a back-heel to Andreas Weimann. [[Paul Lambert]] said afterwards that 'Benteke has been unbelievable', after already stating midweek (post–[[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich]]) that 'you run out of things to say about the guy, how well he's performing and how young he is'.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20650106 |title=Liverpool 1–3 Aston Villa |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 December 2012}}</ref> Around Christmas time, [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] manager [[André Villas-Boas]] was reportedly interested in signing Benteke, referring to him as the season's "surprise package".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/dec/25/tottenham-andre-villas-boas-christian-benteke|title=Tottenham's André Villas-Boas eyes summer move for Christian Benteke|last=Hytner|first=David|date=25 December 2012|work=The Guardian|access-date=19 February 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

After not scoring for three games, Benteke scored Villa's first [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty kick]] in almost a year in a 2–2 draw away to Swansea City in Villa's first game of 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20840916 |title=Swansea 2–2 Aston Villa |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 January 2013 |access-date=3 January 2013}}</ref> He recorded his 10th goal of the season with a 28-yard strike against [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]] rivals [[West Bromwich Albion F.C|West Bromwich Albion]] in a 2–2 draw at [[The Hawthorns]]. The goal was nominated for January's goal of the month competition on [[Match of the Day]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20996732 |title=West Brom 2–2 Aston Villa |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 January 2013 |access-date=23 January 2013}}</ref> He then netted Villa's first goal in their 2–1 [[2012-13 Football League Cup#Semi-finals|League Cup semi-final]] victory over [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]]. However, the victory was not enough as Bradford won 4–3 on aggregate to progress to the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21022502 |title=Aston Villa 2–1 Bradford (3–4) |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 January 2013 }}</ref> Former [[England national football team|England]] striker [[Michael Owen]] called him one of the signings of the season and posted a [[Tweet (Twitter)|tweet]] the day after the semi-final saying: 'I'm seriously impressed with Benteke. What a player.'<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.twitter.com/themichaelowen/statuses/293820156210188288 |title=Tweet |publisher=Twitter |date=23 January 2013 }}</ref> Benteke continued his rich scoring form with a goal against [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] and a brace against [[Everton F.C.|Everton]], in a game that Villa had led 3–1 at one point but eventually finished 3–3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21137565 |title=Aston Villa 1–2 Newcastle |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 January 2013 |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21209061 |title=Everton 3–3 Aston Villa |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 February 2013}}</ref> He racked up his 15th goal in all competitions, as well as tallying six goals in five games, when he scored a penalty in a 2–1 victory against [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] on 10 February 2013. This was Villa's first league victory in eight games, since Benteke inspired the win against Liverpool back in December.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21311649 |title=Aston Villa 2–1 West Ham |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 February 2013}}</ref>

Benteke scored a deflected goal in a 2–1 victory at [[Reading F.C.|Reading]], scoring the club's 1,000th goal in the [[Premier League]] in the process. The following week he went on to score a goal that sealed a 3–2 win over [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21639183 |title=Reading 1–2 Aston Villa |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 March 2013 |access-date=7 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21724358 |title=Aston Villa 3–2 QPR |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 March 2013 |access-date=7 April 2013}}</ref> He then scored the third goal to seal a 3–1 win against relegation rivals [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] at the [[Britannia Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21979453 |title=Stoke 1–3 Aston Villa |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 April 2013 |access-date=1 May 2013}}</ref> Benteke was nominated for the [[PFA Young Player of the Year]] after his excellent debut season, eventually finishing as runner-up to eventual double award winner [[Gareth Bale]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22216746 |title=Carrick, Bale, Suarez, Van Persie, Hazard & Mata on PFA shortlist |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 April 2013 |access-date=1 May 2013}}</ref> On 29 April, Benteke scored his first [[List of Premier League hat-tricks|hat-trick]] for Aston Villa in a 6–1 thrashing of [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]. These goals also saw him exceed [[Dwight Yorke]]'s record for most Premier League goals in a season (18) by an Aston Villa player and pass the 20 goal mark in all competitions, becoming the first player to do so for Villa since [[Juan Pablo Ángel]] in the [[2003–04 Aston Villa F.C. season|2003–04 season]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22244165 |title=Aston Villa 6–1 Sunderland |date=29 April 2013 |access-date=1 May 2013}}</ref>

On 11 May, Benteke scored Villa's only goal in a 2–1 loss to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] but in the second half he was sent off after receiving his second yellow card for a high boot on [[John Terry]], meaning he would miss the last game of the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22409606|title=Aston Villa 1–2 Chelsea|date=11 May 2013|access-date=12 May 2013}}</ref>

====2013–14 season====
[[File:Christian Benteke, Aston Villa 2013 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Benteke playing for [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] in 2013]]
Benteke's 23 goals in 2012–13 led to speculation about his future, and in early July he submitted a transfer request. Villa said he could leave only if their valuation were met, but a fortnight later he withdrew his transfer request, after talks with manager Paul Lambert, and signed a new four-year contract with the club.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23236667 |title=Christian Benteke: Aston Villa striker submits transfer request |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 July 2013 |access-date=12 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23383683 |title=Christian Benteke: Aston Villa striker signs new deal |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 July 2013 |access-date=12 May 2014}}</ref> On his second pre-season appearance, he scored a hat-trick against [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]] in a 5–1 victory.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~3328995,00.html |title=Crewe 1–5 Villa report: Benteke the hat-trick hero |publisher=Aston Villa F.C |date=26 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730050107/http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~3328995,00.html |archive-date=30 July 2013}}</ref> He finished pre-season with seven goals in five appearances, including two goals against [[Málaga CF|Málaga]] at [[Villa Park]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~3344140,00.html |title=Villa 3–2 Malaga report: Benteke double in final friendly win |publisher=Aston Villa Football Club |date=10 August 2013 |access-date=18 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814021508/http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~3344140,00.html |archive-date=14 August 2013}}</ref>

On 17 August 2013, Benteke scored twice, once from a penalty and one headed goal via a rebound from a missed penalty, in Aston Villa's 3–1 away-win against [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] on the opening day of the [[2013–14 Premier League]] season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23644714 |title=Arsenal 1–3 Aston Villa |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 August 2013 }}</ref>
Four days later, Benteke scored against [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] at [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]] in a 2–1 defeat.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/236915514 |title=Chelsea 2–1 Aston Villa |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 August 2013 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He scored his fourth goal in as many games, as Villa comfortably beat [[Football League One|League One]] side [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]] 3–0 in the [[2013-14 Football League Cup#Second round|League Cup second round]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23776656 |title=Aston Villa 3–0 Rotherham |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=29 August 2013 }}</ref> He continued scoring, as he racked up his fifth goal in all competitions, against [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] in a 2–1 defeat at [[Villa Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23999651 |title=Aston Villa 1–2 Newcastle |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 September 2013 |access-date=26 September 2013}}</ref> However his brilliant early season form was abruptly ended, as he was injured in the next match against [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]. It was later confirmed that he would be out for up to six weeks with a hip flexor injury.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11677/8940234/premier-league-aston-villa-striker-christian-benteke-faces-six-weeks-out-with-hip-injury |title=Premier League: Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke faces six weeks out with hip injury |publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=26 September 2013}}</ref> However, he made his comeback earlier than expected, after coming on as a substitute against [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] a month later in a 2–0 defeat.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24510366 |title=Aston Villa 0–2 Tottenham |date=18 October 2013 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=22 October 2013}}</ref>

After loss of form and nagging injuries prevented Benteke scoring for 12 games (his last goal being against Newcastle on 14 September), he eventually ended his drought against Arsenal in a 1–2 defeat on 13 January 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www1.skysports.com/news/12040/9096538/ |title=Premier League: Aston Villa's Christian Benteke backed to rediscover top form |publisher=Sky Sports |date=1 January 2014 |access-date=14 January 2014}}</ref><ref name="Villa 1-2 Arsenal">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25617902 |title=Aston Villa 1–2 Arsenal |date=12 January 2014 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=14 January 2014 }}</ref> He followed this up with goals in back-to-back games against [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] and [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]], in a 2–2 draw and 4–3 victory respectively.<ref name="Liverpool 2-2 Villa BBC">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25693308 |title=Liverpool 2–2 Aston Villa |date=17 January 2014 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=19 January 2014 }}</ref><ref name="Villa 4-3 West Brom">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25838290 |title=Aston Villa 4–3 West Bromwich Albion |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 January 2014 |access-date=2 February 2014 }}</ref> Having not scored throughout February, the Belgian then scored a superb overhead volley as well as a header, in an eventual 4–1 home victory against Norwich City on 2 March.<ref name="Villa 4-1 Norwich">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26311656 |title=Aston Villa 4–1 Norwich City |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 March 2014 |access-date=1 April 2014 }}</ref>

On 3 April 2014, Benteke suffered a rupture of his [[achilles tendon]] while training and was ruled out for at least six months, missing the remainder of the season and the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/03/christian-benteke-suffers-achilles-injury-aston-villa-belgium-world-cup|title=Christian Benteke ruled out of World Cup after rupturing achilles|date=3 April 2014|access-date=4 April 2014|publisher=ESPN Soccernet}}</ref>

====2014–15 season====
On 2 November 2014, Benteke was given a straight red card by referee [[Neil Swarbrick]] for pushing the face of [[Tottenham Hotspur]]'s [[Ryan Mason]] after Mason had stuck his face in Benteke's chest. Villa had been winning at the time, but went on to lose 2–1.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Whalley|first1=Mike|title=Aston Villa 1–2 Tottenham|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29775975|access-date=2 November 2014|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2 November 2014}}</ref> The incident led to both clubs being fined £20,000 by [[The FA]] for failing to keep their players under control.<ref>{{cite news|title=Aston Villa and Tottenham fined £20,000 each by FA|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29921851|access-date=12 November 2014|publisher=BBC Sport|date=12 November 2014}}</ref>

He scored his second goal of the season against Manchester United in a 1–1 draw at Villa Park.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30459793 |title=Aston Villa 1–1 Manchester United |date=20 December 2014 |access-date=8 April 2015 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> It took him until early March to score his next goal, a 94th-minute penalty in a local derby against rivals [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31598202 |title=Aston Villa 2–1 West Bromwich Albion |date=3 March 2015 |access-date=8 April 2015 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> On 7 April, he scored his second [[List of Premier League hat-tricks|Premier League hat-trick]] in a 3–3 draw with [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32126419 |title=Aston Villa 3–3 QPR |date=7 April 2015 |access-date=7 April 2015 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> Twelve days later, he equalised as Villa came from behind to defeat Liverpool and reach the [[2015 FA Cup Final]], their first for fifteen years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Aston Villa 2–1 Liverpool|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32273487|access-date=19 April 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=19 April 2015}}</ref> On 2 May, he scored twice in a 3–2 win at home to Everton, taking him to a total of eleven goals in nine matches since the arrival of [[Tim Sherwood]] as manager.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32460322|title=Aston Villa 3–2 Everton|date=2 May 2015|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> Six days later, Benteke was announced as the [[Premier League Player of the Month]] for April.<ref>{{cite news |title=Barclays player of the month: Christian Benteke wins April award |url=http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~4699825,00.html |publisher=Aston Villa F.C. |date=8 May 2015 |access-date=8 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512000717/http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~4699825,00.html |archive-date=12 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Benteke and Pearson win Barclays monthly awards |url=http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2014-15/may/080515-benteke-and-pearson-claim-barclays-monthly-awards-for-april.html |publisher=Premier League |date=8 May 2015 |access-date=9 May 2015 |archive-date=10 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510210941/http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2014-15/may/080515-benteke-and-pearson-claim-barclays-monthly-awards-for-april.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> He played the full 90 minutes in the FA Cup Final as Villa lost 4–0 to [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], being beaten to a header by [[Per Mertesacker]] for the third goal of the rout.<ref name=2015FACupFinal>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32856754 |title=Arsenal 4–0 Aston Villa |first=Phil |last=McNulty |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 May 2015 |access-date=27 April 2019}}</ref>

===Liverpool===
On 22 July 2015, [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] completed the signing of Benteke on a "long-term contract"<!--This is Liverpool's own description of it, so it needs quotation marks, just as it is reported in the BBC article used as a source--> after meeting his release clause of £32.5 million, at the time making him their second [[List of Liverpool F.C. records and statistics#Record transfer fees paid|most expensive transfer]] ever.<ref>{{cite news|title=Christian Benteke: Liverpool sign £32.5m Aston Villa striker|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33627800|date=22 July 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=22 July 2015}}</ref> He made his debut on 2 August in a pre-season friendly at [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]], putting Liverpool into the lead with a volley as they went on to win 2–1.<ref>{{cite news|title=Christian Benteke: Liverpool striker scores in Swindon friendly|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33754238|date=2 August 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=3 August 2015}}</ref>

On 9 August, Benteke made his competitive debut by starting in a 1–0 win at [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Stoke 0–1 Liverpool|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33750574|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=10 August 2015|date=9 August 2015}}</ref> Eight days later he scored his first league goal for Liverpool in a 1–0 home win over newly promoted [[A.F.C. Bournemouth|Bournemouth]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Liverpool 1–0 Bournemouth|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33843979|access-date=17 August 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=17 August 2015}}</ref> On 12 September, he scored an [[overhead kick]] in a 3–1 defeat to [[Liverpool F.C.–Manchester United F.C. rivalry|rivals]] [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Phil |last=McNulty |title=Man Utd 1–3 Liverpool |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34160795 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 September 2015 |access-date=13 September 2015}}</ref>

After missing several games through injury, Benteke returned to score in consecutive games as a substitute on 25 and 31 October: a 1–1 draw against [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Match Report|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34564965|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=27 October 2015|date=25 October 2015}}</ref> and a 3–1 away win against [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34623902|last=McNulty|first=Phil|title=Chelsea 1–3 Liverpool|publisher=BBC Sport|date=31 October 2015|access-date=31 October 2015}}</ref> On 26 December, he replaced compatriot [[Divock Origi]] in the first half of a home fixture against league leaders [[Leicester City]], and scored the only goal in a victory that curtailed the visitors' nine-game unbeaten run.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jurejko|first1=Jonathan|title=Liverpool 1–0 Leicester|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35140035|access-date=26 December 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 December 2015}}</ref>

On 8 January 2016, Benteke was named as [[Captain (association football)|captain]] for Liverpool's [[2015–16 FA Cup|FA Cup]] third round tie with [[Exeter City F.C.|Exeter City]] at [[St James Park (Exeter)|St James Park]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fa-league-cups/exeter-vs-liverpool-team-news-christian-benteke-captains-jurgen-klopps-youthful-liverpool-line-up-a6803166.html|title=Exeter vs Liverpool team news: Christian Benteke the captain as Jurgen Klopp makes 11 changes|last=Orr|first=James|date=9 January 2016|work=The Independent}}</ref>

On 11 May 2016, Benteke scored his tenth goal of his only season at Liverpool with a 92nd-minute equaliser in the team's final home game of 2015–16, a 1–1 draw with Chelsea.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/premier-league/live-coverage-of-liverpool-v-chelsea-sunderland-v-everton-norwich-v-watford/news-story/ead855105fd49409ddea00b7dd52a3f9|title=Liverpool v Chelsea: Christian Benteke cancels out Eden Hazard goal at Anfield in Premier League|date=12 May 2016|work=Fox Sports}}</ref> Benteke was often found on the bench because he wasn't fitting into [[Jürgen Klopp]]'s style of play. Because of this, he ended his stint at Liverpool after making 42 appearances and scoring 10 goals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/232467-christian-benteke-completes-move-to-palace|title=Christian Benteke completes move to Palace|last=Shaw|first=Chris|date=20 August 2016|publisher=Liverpool F.C.|access-date=20 August 2016}}</ref>

===Crystal Palace===
[[File:Christian Benteke 17-12-2016 1.jpg|thumb|upright|Benteke playing for [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] in 2016]]
On 20 August 2016, fellow Premier League side [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] completed the signing of Benteke on a four-year contract for a fee of £27m which could rise by a further £5m, bringing the total fee to £32m.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2016/august/benteke-signs-for-palace/|title=Crystal Palace have signed Belgium international striker Christian Benteke from Liverpool for an undisclosed fee on a four year contract|access-date=20 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37028477|title=Christian Benteke: Crystal Palace sign striker from Liverpool for £27m|work=BBC Sport|access-date=20 August 2016}}</ref> On 10 September 2016, Benteke scored his first goal for Palace in a 2–1 victory against [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]], in his second league game.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/09/10/middlesbrough-1-crystal-palace-2-christian-benteke-and-wilfried/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/09/10/middlesbrough-1-crystal-palace-2-christian-benteke-and-wilfried/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Middlesbrough 1 Crystal Palace 2: Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha net to end Boro's unbeaten run|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=10 September 2016|access-date=10 September 2016|last1=Edwards|first1=Luke}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On 24 September 2016, Benteke headed home a goal against [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] in the 94th minute to cap Palace's comeback from 2–0 down to win 3–2.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37394578|title=Sunderland 2-3 Crystal Palace|date=24 September 2016|publisher=BBC}}</ref> On 3 December 2016 (Benteke's birthday), he scored twice in a 3–0 win over [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] that ended Palace's run of six consecutive defeats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/crystal-palace-3-southampton-0-relief-for-alan-pardew-as-birthday-boy-christian-benteke-ends-losing-a3411641.html|title=Palace 3 Southampton 0: Birthday boy Benteke eases pressure on Pardew|date=3 December 2016}}</ref> Benteke marked his return to Anfield, the ground of his former club Liverpool, with two goals in a 2–1 win on 23 April 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39612237|title=Liverpool 1-2 Crystal Palace|date=23 April 2017|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=24 April 2017|language=en-GB}}</ref> He finished his first season with Palace as their top-scorer, with 15 league goals and 17 in total.

The next season was less successful, with Benteke not scoring until December,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/12/16/leicester-0-crystal-palace-3-christian-benteke-ends-league-goal/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/12/16/leicester-0-crystal-palace-3-christian-benteke-ends-league-goal/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Leicester 0 Crystal Palace 3: Christian Benteke ends league goal drought to lift Palace out of drop zone|last=Percy|first=John|date=16 December 2017|work=The Telegraph|access-date=29 January 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and finishing the season with just three league goals in 30 appearances. In an injury-affected 2018–19 season, Benteke scored once in 19 appearances in all competitions and had not scored by October of the 2019–20 campaign.<ref name=Soccerway/> Despite this loss of form, in that same month, he signed a contract extension keeping him at Crystal Palace until the end of the 2020–21 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2019/october/contract-extensions-confirmed-for-james-tomkins-and-christianbenteke/|title=Contract extensions confirmed for Tomkins and Benteke|website=CPFC.co.uk|date=17 October 2019|access-date=17 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017222315/https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2019/october/contract-extensions-confirmed-for-james-tomkins-and-christianbenteke/|archive-date=17 October 2019}}</ref>

On 16 May 2021, Benteke headed in a goal against his former club Aston Villa as Palace twice came from a goal-behind to win 3–2. It was Benteke's 31st headed goal in the Premier League, joining the top-10 all-time list, equal with [[Tim Cahill]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://talksport.com/football/881789/christian-benteke-elite-list-crystal-palace-come-from-behind-aston-villa/|title=Christian Benteke joins elite Premier League list as Crystal Palace come from behind twice to beat Aston Villa|last=Fordham|first=Josh|website=Talksport|date=16 May 2021|accessdate=17 May 2021}}</ref> With a goal against Arsenal in Palace's next match, Benteke scored in four consecutive Premier League games for the first time in over eight years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://premiersoccerchat.com/2021/05/20/benteke-has-scored-in-four-consecutive-premier-league-games-for-the-first-time-in-eight-years/|title=Benteke has scored in four consecutive Premier League games for the first time in eight years|website=Premier Soccer Chat|date=20 May 2021|accessdate=21 May 2021|archive-date=21 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521140129/https://premiersoccerchat.com/2021/05/20/benteke-has-scored-in-four-consecutive-premier-league-games-for-the-first-time-in-eight-years/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In June 2021, Benteke signed a further contract extension until the end of the 2022–23 season.<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 June 2021|title=Christian Benteke signs Crystal Palace contract extension|url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2021/june/christian-benteke-signs-crystal-palace-contract-extension/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604170109/https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2021/june/christian-benteke-signs-crystal-palace-contract-extension/|archive-date=4 June 2021|access-date=4 June 2021|website=www.cpfc.co.uk|language=en-gb}}</ref>

=== D.C. United ===
In August 2022, Benteke signed for [[Major League Soccer|MLS]] club [[D.C. United]] as a [[Designated Player Rule|Designated Player]] on a two-and-a-half-year contract.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 August 2022 |title=Christian Benteke: Ex-Liverpool forward joins D.C. United from Crystal Palace ahead of Premier League season |url=https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/transfers/2022-2023/christian-benteke-ex-liverpool-forward-joins-d.c.-united-from-crystal-palace-ahead-of-premier-league_sto9075050/story.shtml |access-date=5 August 2022 |website=Eurosport UK |language=en}}</ref> On 18 September 2022, Benteke scored his first goal for DC United in a 1–0 win over [[Inter Miami CF|Inter Miami]]. He ended the [[2022 Major League Soccer season|2022 season]] with D.C. United tallying one goal in seven appearances.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 March 2023 |title=Christian Benteke Stats, News, Bio |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/106957/christian-benteke |website=ESPN |language=en}}</ref> On 29 April 2023, in a game against [[Charlotte FC]], Benteke scored an over-the-head bicycle kick to lead D.C. United to a 3–1 win. Benteke received his first MLS Goal of the Matchday for his goal and was named to MLS Team of the Matchday, his third of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 April 2023 |title=GOLAZO! Christian Benteke nets stunning bicycle kick for DC United |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/golazo-christian-benteke-nets-stunning-bicycle-kick-for-dc-united |access-date=7 May 2023 |website=MLS |language=en}}</ref> On 23 September, Benteke netted his first hat-trick for the club in a 5–3 loss to the [[New York Red Bulls]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-23 |title=Red Bulls top D.C. despite Christian Benteke's hat trick |url=https://deadspin.com/red-bulls-top-d-c-despite-christian-bentekes-hat-trick-1850868440 |access-date=2024-03-04 |work=[[Deadspin]]}}</ref> He finished his first full season with D.C. tallying 14 goals in 31 appearances.<ref>{{Cite web |last=mlssoccer |title=Christian Benteke |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/christian-benteke/stats/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=mlssoccer |language=en}}</ref>

In the opening game of the [[2024 Major League Soccer season|2024 MLS season]] on 24 February 2024, Benteke scored a hat-trick against [[D.C. United–New England Revolution rivalry|rival]] club [[New England Revolution]], securing a 3–1 victory.<ref>{{Cite web |last=mlssoccer |title=Hat trick! Christian Benteke gives DC United dream 2024 start |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/hat-trick-hero-christian-benteke-gives-dc-united-dream-2024-start |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=mlssoccer |language=en}}</ref> He would score his second hat-trick of the season in a 3–2 win at [[Atlanta United FC|Atlanta United]] on 11 May, a feat which awarded him player of the matchday for the second time in the season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-12 |title=Christian Benteke hat trick! DC United star makes MVP case |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mvp-candidate-dc-united-s-christian-benteke-gets-another-hat-trick |access-date=2024-05-12 |website=[[Major League Soccer]]}}</ref> Benteke would finish the season winning the 2024 [[MLS Golden Boot]] with 23 goals scored across 30 appearances and set the club's record for the most goals scored, 25, across all competitions in a single season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 October 2024 |title=Christian Benteke Wins 2024 MLS Golden Boot Presented by Audi |url=https://www.dcunited.com/news/christian-benteke-wins-2024-mls-golden-boot-presented-by-audi |access-date=20 October 2024 |website=[[D.C. United]]}}</ref>

==International career==
[[File:Christian_Benteke.JPG|thumb|upright|Benteke with [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] in 2013]]

Benteke was a member of the [[Belgium national under-17 football team|Belgium U17]] team at the [[2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup squads|2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup]] in South Korea where he played three games and scored once.<ref>{{FIFA player|274008}}</ref>

On 19 May 2010, he made his senior debut for the [[Belgium national football team|Belgium national team]] in a friendly match against [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]] in Brussels after his former coach at [[KV Kortrijk|Kortrijk]], [[Georges Leekens]], became national coach. On 15 August 2012, he scored his first goal in a 4–2 win against the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]]. Since then, he has become a regular starter for Belgium under [[Marc Wilmots]]. On 29 May 2013, he scored twice in a 4–2 friendly victory against the [[USMNT|United States]] in [[Cleveland, Ohio]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Slane|first1=Mike|title=United States 2–4 Belgium: Sloppy defensive play leads to friendly defeat|url=http://www.goal.com/en-us/match/united-states-vs-belgium/1460935/report|access-date=8 April 2015|publisher=Goal.com|date=29 May 2013}}</ref>

He scored two goals in seven appearances during [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|qualifying]] for the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2014/teams/player=1902165/index.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140411082804/http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2014/teams/player=1902165/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 April 2014|title=Christian Benteke|access-date=11 April 2014|publisher=UEFA}}</ref> but was ruled out of the tournament finals with a ruptured Achilles tendon.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=2083755.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404154107/http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=2083755.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 April 2014|title=Belgium's Benteke ruled out of World Cup|date=3 April 2014|access-date=11 April 2014|publisher=UEFA}}</ref>

Benteke returned to Belgium's squad for the [[UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying]] campaign, scoring his first international goal for two years in a 5–0 defeat of [[Cyprus national football team|Cyprus]] on 28 March 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/qualifiers/season=2016/matches/live/day=5/session=2/match=2013931/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202094628/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/qualifiers/season=2016/matches/live/day=5/session=2/match=2013931/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 February 2015|title=Belgium 5–0 Cyprus|access-date=3 April 2015|publisher=UEFA}}</ref> He was selected for [[UEFA Euro 2016|the final tournament]] in France, and made his tournament debut in the second group game on 18 June, replacing [[Romelu Lukaku]] for the last seven minutes of a 3–0 win over the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] in [[Bordeaux]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Saffer|first1=Paul|title=Belgium find best form to beat Ireland|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d81a122b79c-40001135ebd2-1000--belgium-find-best-form-to-beat-ireland-in-euro-2016-group-e/|access-date=4 July 2016|publisher=UEFA|date=18 June 2016}}</ref> He played three more minutes in place of the same player four days later in a victory over [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lawrence|first1=Amy|title=Zlatan Ibrahimovic bows out as Sweden are ushered to exit by Belgium|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jun/22/sweden-belgium-euro-2016-match-report|access-date=4 July 2016|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=22 June 2016}}</ref> but took no further part as the Belgians reached the quarter-finals and lost to [[Wales national football team|Wales]]. On 10 October 2016, Benteke set a record for the fastest goal in a [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] match—either qualifying or the finals—when he scored after 8.1 seconds against [[Gibraltar national football team|Gibraltar]] in a [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group H|2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match]], breaking the 23-year-old record previously held by [[Davide Gualtieri]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37602916|title= Belgium's Christian Benteke scored the fastest ever World Cup qualifying goal after 8.1 seconds against Gibraltar|work= bbc.com|date= 10 October 2016|access-date=21 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/newsid=2412481.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011165049/http://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/newsid=2412481.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 October 2016|title=Record-breaking Benteke scores after 8.1 seconds|last=UEFA.com|website=[[UEFA]]}}</ref> He scored twice more to complete his first hat-trick for Belgium.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/newsid=2412481.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011165049/http://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/newsid=2412481.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 October 2016|title=Record-breaking Benteke scores after 8.1 seconds|publisher=UEFA|access-date=10 October 2016}}</ref>

He was left out of the final Belgium 23-man squad for the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]] despite initially being named in the preliminary squad.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44353673|title=World Cup 2018: Belgium include Vincent Kompany but Christian Benteke misses out|date=4 June 2018|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref>

On 17 May 2021, Benteke was included in the final 26-man squad for the re-arranged [[UEFA Euro 2020]].<ref name="Red Devils Squad">{{cite news |url=https://www.rbfa.be/en/news/selection-red-devils-euro-2020-has-been-announced |title=Selection of the Red Devils for EURO 2020 has been announced |work=[[Royal Belgian Football Association]] |date=17 May 2021 |access-date=17 May 2021}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Benteke is a Christian and supports [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Christian Benteke: I thank God for my goalscoring gift|date=12 August 2013|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/christian-benteke-thank-god-goalscoring-5700465|last=Kendrick|first=Matt|work=Birmingham Mail}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Talintyre |first=Dan |date=18 November 2012 |title=Aston Villa Striker Christian Benteke Professes His Love for Arsenal |work=Bleacher Report |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1412365-aston-villa-striker-christian-benteke-professes-his-love-for-arsenal-not-villa |access-date=5 February 2023}}</ref>

==Media==
Benteke's [[goal celebration]], which features him beating his chest, is taken from LeBron James. The celebration appears in EA Sports' video game ''[[FIFA 18]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=How to do the 12 new FIFA 18 celebrations – plus more of our favourites |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/how-do-12-new-fifa-18-celebrations-plus-more-our-favourites?page=0%2C2 |access-date=17 October 2018 |work=FourFourTwo |archive-date=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127144855/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/how-do-12-new-fifa-18-celebrations-plus-more-our-favourites |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
[[File:Christian Benteke, Aston Villa striker (10679803106).jpg|thumb|upright|Benteke playing for Aston Villa in 2013]]

{{updated|match played 14 May 2025}}<ref name=Soccerway>{{cite web|title=C. Benteke|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/-christian-benteke/53423/|work=Soccerway|publisher=Global Sports Media|access-date=8 January 2016}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[Belgian Cup]], [[FA Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes [[EFL Cup|Football League/EFL Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[K.R.C. Genk|Genk]]
|{{nowrap|[[2007–08 Belgian First Division|2007–08]]}}
|[[Belgian Pro League]]
|7||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||colspan="2"|—||7||1
|-
|[[2008–09 Belgian First Division|2008–09]]
|Belgian Pro League
|3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!10!!1!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!10!!1
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Standard Liège]]
|[[2008–09 Standard Liège season|2008–09]]
|Belgian Pro League
|9||3||0||0||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|Appearances in [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]}}||0||colspan="2"|—||11||3
|-
|[[2010–11 Standard Liège season|2010–11]]
|Belgian Pro League
|5||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||5||0
|-
|[[2011–12 Standard Liège season|2011–12]]
|Belgian Pro League
|4||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||4{{efn|Two appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]], two appearances in [[UEFA Europa League]]}}||0||1{{efn|Appearance in [[Belgian Super Cup]]}}||0||9||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!18!!3!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!6!!0!!1!!0!!25!!3
|-
|[[K.V. Kortrijk|Kortrijk]] (loan)
|[[2009–10 Belgian Pro League|2009–10]]
|Belgian Pro League
|34||14||4||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||38||16
|-
|[[KV Mechelen|Mechelen]] (loan)
|[[2010–11 Belgian Pro League|2010–11]]
|Belgian Pro League
|18||6||2||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||20||7
|-
|rowspan="3"|Genk
|[[2011–12 Belgian Pro League|2011–12]]
|Belgian Pro League
|32||16||1||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||colspan="2"|—||33||16
|-
|[[2012–13 Belgian Pro League|2012–13]]
|Belgian Pro League
|5||3||0||0||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||1||colspan="2"|—||8||4
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!37!!19!!1!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!3!!1!!colspan="2"|—!!41!!20
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]
|[[2012–13 Aston Villa F.C. season|2012–13]]
|[[Premier League]]
|34||19||0||0||5||4||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||39||23
|-
|[[2013–14 Aston Villa F.C. season|2013–14]]
|Premier League
|26||10||1||0||1||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||28||11
|-
|[[2014–15 Aston Villa F.C. season|2014–15]]
|Premier League
|29||13||5||2||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||34||15
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!89!!42!!6!!2!!6!!5!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!101!!49
|-
|[[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
|[[2015–16 Liverpool F.C. season|2015–16]]
|Premier League
|29||9||4||0||2||0||7{{efn|name=UEL}}||1||colspan="2"|—||42||10
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]
|[[2016–17 Crystal Palace F.C. season|2016–17]]
|Premier League
|36||15||2||2||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||40||17
|-
|[[2017–18 Crystal Palace F.C. season|2017–18]]
|Premier League
|31||3||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||31||3
|-
|[[2018–19 Crystal Palace F.C. season|2018–19]]
|Premier League
|16||1||3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||19||1
|-
|[[2019–20 Crystal Palace F.C. season|2019–20]]
|Premier League
|24||2||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||25||2
|-
|[[2020–21 Crystal Palace F.C. season|2020–21]]
|Premier League
|30||10||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||31||10
|-
|[[2021–22 Crystal Palace F.C. season|2021–22]]
|Premier League
|25||4||5||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||31||4
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!162||35||11||2||4||0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!177!!37
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[D.C. United]]
|[[2022 D.C. United season|2022]]
|[[Major League Soccer]]
|7||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||7||1
|-
|[[2023 D.C. United season|2023]]
|Major League Soccer
|31||14||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|Appearances in [[Leagues Cup]]|name=LC}}||0||34||14
|-
|[[2024 D.C. United season|2024]]
|Major League Soccer
|30||23||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|name=LC}}||2||33||25
|-
|[[2025 D.C. United season|2025]]
|Major League Soccer
|12||6||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0||12||6
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!80||44||0||0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!6!!2!!86!!46
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!477!!172!!28!!7!!12!!5!!16!!2!!7!!2!!540!!188
|}
{{notelist}}

===International===
[[File:Christian Benteke vs USA 1.jpg|thumb|upright|Benteke playing for Belgium in 2013]]

{{updated|match played 29 March 2022}}<ref name="Belgium profile"/><ref name=NFT>{{NFT player |id=38242 |name=Benteke, Christian |access-date=8 January 2016}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
| rowspan="13" |[[Belgium national football team|Belgium]]
|2010||3||0
|-
|2011
|0
|0
|-
|2012||6||4
|-
|2013||8||2
|-
|2014||3||0
|-
|2015||5||1
|-
|2016||6||3
|-
|2017||2||2
|-
|2018||1||0
|-
|2019||3||3
|-
|2020||1||0
|-
|2021||5||2
|-
|2022||2||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!45!!18
|}

{{updated|match played 29 March 2022}}<ref name="Belgium profile">{{cite web |url=http://static.belgianfootball.be/project/publiek/jrinteren/speler_PH_5621.htm#itop |title=Christian Benteke |website=Royal Belgian Football Association |access-date=14 October 2016}}</ref>
:''Scores and results list Belgium's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Benteke goal''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Christian Benteke
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col" data-sort-type="date"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Cap
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
|align="center"|1
|15 August 2012||[[King Baudouin Stadium]], [[Brussels]], Belgium||align="center"|5||{{fb|NED}}||align="center"|1–0||align="center"{{won|4–2}}||[[Exhibition game#Association football|Friendly]]
|-
|align="center"|2
|12 October 2012||[[Red Star Stadium]], [[Belgrade]], Serbia||align="center"|7||{{fb|SRB}}||align="center"|1–0||align="center"{{won|3–0}}||[[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A|2014 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
|align="center"|3
|16 October 2012||King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium||align="center"|8||{{fb|SCO}}||align="center"|1–0||align="center"{{won|2–0}}
||2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
|align="center"|4
|14 November 2012||[[Arena Națională]], [[Bucharest]], Romania ||align="center"|9||{{fb|ROU}}||align="center"|1–0||align="center"{{lost|1–2}}||Friendly
|-
|align="center"|5
|rowspan="2"|29 May 2013||rowspan="2"|[[FirstEnergy Stadium]], [[Cleveland]], United States||rowspan="2" align="center"|12||rowspan="2"|{{fb|USA}}||align="center"|2–1||rowspan="2" align="center"{{won|4–2}}
| rowspan="2" |Friendly
|-
|align="center"|6
|align="center"|4–1
|-
|align="center"|7
|28 March 2015||King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium||align="center"|20||{{fb|CYP}}||align="center"|2–0||align="center"{{won|5–0}}||[[UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying Group B|UEFA Euro 2016 qualification]]
|-
|align="center"|8
|rowspan="3"|10 October 2016||rowspan="3"| [[Estádio Algarve]], [[Faro, Portugal|Faro]]/[[Loulé]], Portugal||rowspan=3 align="center"|30||rowspan="3"|{{fb|GIB}}||align="center"|1–0||rowspan=3 align="center"{{won|6–0}}||rowspan="3"|[[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group H|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
|align="center"|9
|align="center"|3–0
|-
|align="center"|10
|align="center"|5–0
|-
|align="center"|11
|rowspan="2"|28 March 2017||rowspan="2"|[[Fisht Olympic Stadium]], [[Sochi]], Russia||rowspan="2" align="center"|32||rowspan="2"|{{fb|RUS}}||align="center"|1–2||rowspan="2" align="center"{{draw|3–3}}||rowspan="2"|Friendly
|-
|align="center"|12
|align="center"|1–3
|-
|align="center"|13
|10 October 2019||King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium||align="center"|35||{{fb|SMR}}||align="center"|7–0||align="center"{{won|9–0}}||[[UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying Group I|UEFA Euro 2020 qualification]]
|-
|align="center"|14
|rowspan="2"|19 November 2019||rowspan="2"|King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium||rowspan="2" align="center"|37||rowspan="2"|{{fb|CYP}}||align="center"|1–1||rowspan="2" align="center"{{won|6–1}}
|UEFA Euro 2020 qualification
|-
|align="center"|15
|align="center"|6–1
|UEFA Euro 2020 qualification
|-
|align="center"|16
|30 March 2021||[[Den Dreef]], [[Leuven]], Belgium||align="center"|39||{{fb|BLR}}||align="center"|6–0||align="center"{{won|8–0}}||[[2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group E|2022 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
|align="center"|17
|13 November 2021||[[King Baudouin Stadium]], [[Brussels]], Belgium
|align="center"|43||
{{fb|EST}}
|align="center"|1–0
|align="center"{{won|3–1}}
|2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
|align="center"|18
|29 March 2022||[[Constant Vanden Stock Stadium]], [[Anderlecht]], Belgium
|align="center"|45||
{{fb|BFA}}
|align="center"|3–0
|align="center"{{won|3–0}}
|Friendly
|}

:''Note that the friendly of Belgium against [[Romania national football team|Romania]] on 14 November 2012 is not an FIFA A-match due to an excessive number of [[Substitute (association football)|substitutions]] according to the [[Laws of the Game (association football)|Laws of the Game]].''<ref name="FArules">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/laws/football-11-11/law-3---the-number-of-players |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141025102228/http://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/laws/football-11-11/law-3---the-number-of-players |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 October 2014 |title=Rules & Governance – Law 3: The number of players |publisher=[[The Football Association]] |access-date=14 October 2016 }}</ref>

==Honours==
'''Standard Liège'''
*[[Belgian First Division]]: [[2008–09 Belgian First Division|2008–09]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2016/august/benteke-signs-for-palace/ |title=Benteke Signs For Palace |publisher=Crystal Palace F.C. |date=20 August 2016 |access-date=23 April 2017}}</ref>

'''Aston Villa'''
*[[FA Cup]] runner-up: [[2014–15 FA Cup|2014–15]]<ref name=2015FACupFinal/>

'''Liverpool'''
*[[Football League Cup]] runner-up: [[2015–16 Football League Cup|2015–16]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35624164 |title=Liverpool 1–1 Manchester City |first=Phil |last=McNulty |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 February 2016 |access-date=27 April 2019}}</ref>
*[[UEFA Europa League]] runner-up: [[2015–16 UEFA Europa League|2015–16]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36254631 |title=Liverpool 1–3 Sevilla |first=Phil |last=McNulty |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 May 2016 |access-date=27 April 2019}}</ref>
'''Individual'''
*[[Premier League Player of the Month]]: [[2014–15 Premier League#Monthly awards|April 2015]]<ref name="PL Profile">{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/4492/Christian-Benteke/overview |title=Christian Benteke: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=29 September 2018}}</ref>
*[[MLS All-Star Game|MLS All-Star]]: [[2023 MLS All-Star Game|2023]], [[2024 MLS All-Star Game|2024]]
*[[MLS Best XI]]: [[2024 Major League Soccer season#MLS Best XI|2024]]<ref>{{cite news|date=3 December 2024|title=2024 MLS Best XI presented by Continental Tire|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2024-mls-best-xi-presented-by-continental-tire|access-date=4 December 2024|publisher=Major League Soccer}}</ref>
*[[MLS Golden Boot]]: [[2024 Major League Soccer season|2024]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/dc-united-s-christian-benteke-wins-2024-mls-golden-boot-presented-by-audi |title=DC United's Christian Benteke wins 2024 MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi |publisher=Major League Soccer |date=19 October 2024 |access-date=19 October 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.dcunited.com/players/christian-benteke/ Profile] at the D.C. United website
* [https://www.liverpoolfc.com/info/christian-benteke Profile] at the Liverpool F.C. website
* {{RBFA player}}
* {{FIFA player}}
* {{UEFA player}}

{{D.C. United squad}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Belgium squads
| bg = #E20E0E
| fg = #FFCE4A
| bordercolor = black
| list1 =
{{Belgium squad UEFA Euro 2016}}
{{Belgium squad UEFA Euro 2020}}
}}
{{Major League Soccer top scorers}}
{{2024 MLS Best XI}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benteke, Christian}}
[[Category:1990 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Kinshasa]]
[[Category:Belgian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Belgian Christians]]
[[Category:Belgium men's youth international footballers]]
[[Category:Belgium men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Belgium men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo men's footballers]]
[[Category:Belgian sportspeople of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:K.R.C. Genk players]]
[[Category:Standard Liège players]]
[[Category:K.V. Mechelen players]]
[[Category:K.V. Kortrijk players]]
[[Category:Aston Villa F.C. players]]
[[Category:Liverpool F.C. players]]
[[Category:Crystal Palace F.C. players]]
[[Category:D.C. United players]]
[[Category:Belgian Pro League players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo emigrants to Belgium]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2016 players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2020 players]]
[[Category:Black Belgian sportspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century Belgian sportsmen]]
[[Category:Footballers from Liège]]
[[Category:Designated Players (MLS)]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer players]]
[[Category:21st-century Democratic Republic of the Congo sportsmen]]