Karim Benzema will no longer play for the France national team. © APA / afp / FRANCK FIFE
Karim Benzema has announced his retirement from the French national football team. The Real Madrid striker was absent from the World Cup in Qatar due to injury.
December 19, 2022
From: cst/dpa
“I have written my story and ours is coming to an end,” the 35-year-old Real Madrid forward wrote on social media, along with a picture of himself in the national team shirt. In 97 international matches, Benzema had scored 37 goals for the Équipe Tricolore.
Benzema took part in the 2008, 2012 and 2021 European Championships and the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, but was absent from the squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, which France won. Benzema also missed the EM 2016 and the World Cup in Qatar, when the French reached the final. He was absent from Qatar with a hamstring injury sustained just before the tournament.
Sex scandal and dispute with coach Deschamps
This year’s Ballon d’Or winner made his international debut in 2007 but was not considered for the national team between December 2015 and spring 2021. A case of blackmail over a sex tape of his former teammate Mathieu Valbuena led to the suspension and a dispute with national coach Didier Deschamps.
