Benzema retires from French national team

Karim Benzema has announced his retirement from international football following France’s World Cup final defeat.

The Real Madrid man was a part of France’s World Cup squad but didn’t feature in any of his nation’s games due to fitness.

The striker’s relationship with the French team has been a complicated one that included a period of six years without featuring for his country from 2015 to 2021. 

In a short tweet, the 35-year-old (who is also celebrating his birthday) said: “I have made the efforts and the mistakes to be where I am today and I am proud of it!

I have written my story and ours is ending.”

In total, Benzema played 97 times for France, scoring 37 times. As well as earning a runners-up medal for the 2022 World Cup, he was a part of Didier Deschamps’ team that won the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League.

Benzema is expected to be fit for his club side’s next game: Real Madrid travel to face Real Valladolid on the 30th of December when La Liga resumes following the World Cup break.

J’ai fait les efforts et les erreurs qu’il fallait pour être là où je suis aujourd’hui et j’en suis fier !
J’ai écrit mon histoire et la nôtre prend fin. #Nueve pic.twitter.com/7LYEzbpHEs

— Karim Benzema (@Benzema) December 19, 2022