Karim Benzema asked to swap shirts with MC Alger midfielder Cherifeddine Boukhalfa after Al Hilal’s 2-0 friendly defeat to the Algerian side, in a gesture that quickly went viral on social media.
The French striker initially agreed to give his shirt to Boukhalfa at full-time, before surprising the 30-year-old by asking for the MC Alger player’s shirt in return.
Boukhalfa, who holds both Algerian and French nationality, appeared taken aback by the request from the Al Hilal captain. In footage shared by MC Alger’s official account on X, he can be heard replying in disbelief: “هل تريد ان اعطيك قميصي؟!” (“Do you want me to give you my shirt?!”).
The short clip was widely shared and praised by supporters as an example of mutual respect between the two players following the pre-season encounter.
Shirt swap continues in the dressing room
The exchange did not end on the pitch. The shirt swap was completed inside the dressing rooms, where Boukhalfa brought his MC Alger jersey to Benzema.
The former Real Madrid forward appeared smiling and in good spirits as he received the shirt, with the meeting between the pair taking place after both had left the field of play.
The friendly saw MC Alger defeat Al Hilal 2-0, but the result was largely overshadowed by the post-match interaction between Benzema and Boukhalfa.
Boukhalfa’s route to MC Alger
Boukhalfa, 30, is a graduate of the AS Monaco academy system in France.
He went on to play for Lille’s reserve team before embarking on a series of spells outside France, eventually joining Algerian giants MC Alger.
The midfielder’s background in French football and his current status with one of Algeria’s most prominent clubs added further intrigue for fans as the clip of his exchange with Benzema circulated online.
Benzema’s recent spell at Al Hilal
Benzema, 38, joined Al Hilal in February on a contract running until June 2027.
The French forward has endured several physical issues towards the end of last season, which affected his availability in domestic league action.
As a result, he featured in only 10 of Al Hilal’s final 16 league fixtures during that period.
Despite those fitness problems and the defeat in the friendly against MC Alger, Benzema’s shirt-swap moment drew substantial attention, with supporters highlighting the respect shown by one of the game’s most high-profile strikers towards an opponent.
Saudi Arabia’s ongoing hosting role
The match also took place against the wider backdrop of Saudi Arabia’s continued staging of key phases of elite football competitions.
Officially, Saudi Arabia is maintaining its role as host for decisive rounds in the دوري النخبة (Elite League), underscoring the country’s ongoing push to position itself as a major hub for high-profile football events.
