Karim Benzema has announced his retirement from international football on his 35th birthday and a day after France lost to Argentina in a dramatic 2022 World Cup final.
Benzema was sent home on the eve of the tournament after picking up an injury, but there was some speculation that he could have returned for the final after playing in a friendly for Real Madrid.
His international career saw him not play for his country for five years after being implicated in a blackmailing scandal.
However, he reportedly rejected the opportunity to go back to Qatar after falling out with manager Didier Deschamps, and has now taken to social media to confirm that he has decided to call time on his international career.
Deschamps is planning to hold talks with the French Football Federation in the new year over his future, but Benzema has opted to not wait to see how those discussions play out and has quit the national team.
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He earned 97 caps and is fifth on France’s all-time goalscorer’s list with 37 goals.
“I made the effort and the mistakes it took to be where I am today and I’m proud of it!” tweeted Benzema. “I have written my story and ours is ending.”
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
Benzema received his first call-up in 2006 and was part of the Euro 2008 and 2010 World Cup squads that were eliminated in the group stage.
The Real Madrid star was controversially left out of the 2010 World Cup but soon returned to the side under new manager Laurent Blanc.
