Madrid – Current Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema from France has retired from international football. The 35-year-old Benzema announced his retirement via Twitter. Benzema, who was France’s main hope at the World Cup in Qatar, missed the World Cup entirely due to injury in training. Benzema injured his left thigh muscle during training. The French Football Federation has announced that the player has stopped training due to pain.
Despite Benzema’s absence, France reached the final with a spectacular performance, losing to Argentina to finish as runners-up. Meanwhile, there were rumors that Benzema, who had resumed training just before the final, would play against Argentina, but these turned out to be rumours. Later, the actor announced his retirement on his 35th birthday.
‘My hard work and my mistakes made me who I am today. I am proud of it. I wrote my story. Ours ends here’ – wrote Benzema on Twitter.
Benzema, who has scored 37 goals in 97 games for France, has made it clear he will continue to play for Spanish giants Real Madrid in club football. The player who was France’s top scorer in the 2014 World Cup was not in France’s squad for the Russia World Cup. Benzema was dropped after being embroiled in a sex tape scandal involving former teammate Mathieu Valbiena. He returned to the national team in May last year.
Meanwhile, this year the luster of the Ballon d’Or also reached Benzema. The award was given for his crucial role in making Real Madrid champions in La Liga and the Champions League, and for his performance for France in the UEFA Nations League. He scored 27 goals in the Spanish league and 15 goals in the Champions League.
English summary: Karim Benzema retires from international football after France’s loss to Argentina in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final
