French forward Karim Benzema hinted at his retirement from international football on Monday, posting a message on social networks after France’s defeat to Argentina in the FIFA World Cup final. After receiving the Ballon d’Or award as the world’s top player, Benzema’s dream of winning the World Cup was shattered before the start of the tournament in Qatar last month after he injured a muscle in his left thigh while training with the French team. Was engaged
“I tried and made mistakes to get where I am today and I’m proud of it,” Benzema wrote on his 35th birthday in a post alongside a picture of himself in a France shirt! I have written my story and ours is coming to an end.” The Real Madrid striker was France’s top scorer at the 2014 World Cup but did not play in the country’s victorious 2018 World Cup campaign as he was replaced by then-France teammate Mathieu Valbuena. Was dropped from the national team for his alleged role in the sex-tape affair with.
Benzema’s reputation was badly damaged after that episode and he faced a lot of criticism. He was out of the national team for a long time since October 2015 but was brought back into the team by coach Didier Deschamps in May last year. With his relationship with Deschamps improving, Benzema scored 10 goals in 16 appearances for France and formed a formidable partnership with Kylian Mboep.
He was France’s top scorer in last year’s European Championship with four goals. Olivier Giroud debuted for France in place of Benzema at the World Cup in Qatar and scored four goals in the tournament. France lost the final on Sunday to Argentina in a penalty shoot-out.
