It’s no secret that 2024 has been an underwhelming year for soccer in our nation’s capital. Despite a decent start to the year, D.C. United have slowly but surely made their way to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, picking up just 23 points from their first 24 games. Through it all, though, it hasn’t been total doom and gloom. When the Loons host the Eagles this Wednesday, they’ll be facing one of the league’s most exciting players.
Across 20 games played, D.C.’s DP striker Christian Benteke has scored 14 goals this year, good enough for second place in the Golden Boot race and a spot on the 2024 MLS All-Star roster. The 33-year-old target man is experiencing a bit of a renaissance this year, harkening back to the glorious finishing touch that got him noticed in the first place, back in his native Belgium. Join me as I use this week’s edition of Storylines to look back at Benteke’s 17-year career, from Genk to our nation’s capital and everything in between.
Starting Local
At just 6 years old, three years after his family fled to Liège, Belgium, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Benteke joined JS Pierreuse’s youth academy, marking the start of a truly remarkable soccer journey. Benteke’s skill was clear from a young age, and Belgium’s biggest clubs took notice. He remained with JS Pierreuse until joining powerhouse Standard Liège in 2004 and subsequently joined K.R.C. Genk’s academy in 2006.
He made his professional debut with Genk at just 17 years old and went on to score one goal in 10 appearances before moving back to Standard in 2009 as a full-blown professional player. As his teenage years came to a close, Benteke grew into his 6’3” frame and began to find his groove as a truly menacing goal threat.
Consecutive loans to smaller Belgian clubs—Kortrijk and Mechelen—saw the young striker find mixed success, and in 2011, he bounced back to Genk to find his footing once more. This time, with experience under his belt, Benteke took the Belgian Pro League by storm, registering 19 goals in 37 games and earning himself attention from some of the world’s biggest clubs.
Making it Big
In 2012, the Premier League came calling, and 22-year-old Benteke answered. He joined Aston Villa for somewhere in the realm of €6 million ahead of the 2012-13 season, in hopes that the emerging striker would help them improve upon their 16th-place finish the season prior. From his first minutes on the pitch, it was clear that they’d made a good move.
On September 15, Benteke scored in his Villa debut, netting against Swansea City to seal a 2-0 win after coming on as a substitute. His performance earned him more time, and with more time came more goals. He ended his first season in England with 23 goals to his name, becoming the first Aston Villa player to eclipse the 20-goal mark in a single season since 2003.
He started 2013 right where he left off, scoring crucial goals for Villa in their first few matches. Unfortunately, injuries kept him from reaching the same prolific numbers he put up the year before, and likewise kept him from being included in Belgium’s roster for the 2014 World Cup.
A decent bounceback campaign in 2015 proved that his injuries hadn’t taken his skill, and Liverpool secured his services with a £32.5 million bid. Though he spent just one season with the Reds, Benteke managed a respectable 10 goals in 42 matches. This proved insufficient for a club of Liverpool’s ambition, though, and the Belgian made his way to Crystal Palace ahead of the 2016-17 season.
Though he never hit the heights he proved himself capable of at Aston Villa, Benteke was a good soldier for Palace. He spent the better part of six years with the Eagles, making more than 150 appearances and bagging 35 goals. He showed his prowess in flashes throughout his time in South London, displaying an impressive range of finishing ability and finding the net in more than one crucial moment.
Crossing the Pond
After a decade in England’s top flight, Benteke decided to take on a new challenge. He joined D.C. United in August 2022 as a Designated Player, and scored one goal in just seven appearances that season. He notched 14 in his first full season with the Black and Red in 2023, and he’s already equaled that tally in 2024 with almost half a season left to play. Given his history, it’s likely he’ll add to that number quite a bit before it’s all said and done.
Throughout his long career, Benteke has suited up for his country as well. Across almost two decades of professional soccer, he’s represented Belgium 45 times, scoring 18 goals for the Red Devils. Now, likely nearer to the end of his career than the start of it, this talented goal scorer is proving his skill once more in his waning seasons, and MLS fans get the privilege of watching his swansong. He’s been a joy to watch throughout his career for those who’ve gotten to see every step of the way; be sure to watch him closely during Wednesday’s match.
