Karim Benzema has announced his unexpected retirement from international football.
As the dust of Argentina’s triumph over France settles, the French are waking up more desperate. The Real Madrid forward made the scandalous ad on the day of his 35th birthday, one day after the World Cup final. “I made the effort and mistakes it took to be where I am today and I’m proud of it! I wrote my story and ours ends”, wrote Benzema. He ends his time with the national team with 37 goals to your name in 97 matches.
Age was clearly not a brake on Benzema, as he recently wrapped up an exemplary 21/22 season with 49 goals and 16 assists in just 53 games. That is equivalent to 0.93 goals per 90′. It was such an extravagant season that he was awarded the prestigious Ballon d’Or 2022 in October of this year.
no ending fairy tale
Benzema’s impressive and consistent performances for Real Madrid meant France manager Didier Deschamps could no longer look away. After six years Forced hiatus from the national team due to his involvement in an infamous sex scandal, Benzema was eventually called up to Les Blues for Euro 2020. His return to the team saw him rack up four goals in four matches and become the third-highest scorer in the tournament. . The French striker would also put in game-changing performances in the Nations League. The first signs pointed to a redemption arc for Benzema.
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The World Cup escapes Benzema
due to a left thigh injury Picked up during training, Benzema withdrew from the World Cup ahead of France’s opening game against Australia. He was never officially replaced in the squad, due to France’s depth of attacking prowess. He would soon return to Madrid to get back into shape, but he was never called up to the squad during the World Cup. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar would have been Benzema’s first World Cup since 2014. did not appear for Les Blues in their winning 2018 campaign.
Also read: Who won the Golden Gloves award at the 2022 FIFA World Cup
broken relationships
Possibly bad blood was brewing between Benzema and coach Deschamps. Reports suggest that Benzema made the decision to retire at the same time that Deschamps decided to send him home due to injury. But he waited until the World Cup was over to make a bombshell announcement. Benzema wanted to stay in Qatar. Furthermore, he quickly recovered from the injury. Some say his injury wasn’t even ‘serious’ and that he could have easily featured in later group stage matches or knockout matches for France.
Benzema rejected President Macron’s proposal invitation to attend the World Cup final between France and Argentina. He simultaneously made cryptic and not-so-cryptic posts, with a subtitle stating bluntly: “I don’t mind.”
Benzema has not publicly revealed his reasons for retiring from international football. It seems that for now all his focus is on his beloved Real Madrid. He is scheduled to participate in Los Blancos’ match with Real Valladolid on December 30, 2022.
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