Real Madrid skipper Karim Benzema has announced his retirement from International football after turning 35 today.
The French international has had a stellar 2022 with Real Madrid and finally had his hands on the Balon dor after leading Real Madrid to European glory once again making it five UEFA Champions League titles for the former Lyon man.
The French international’s career saw him away from his country for five years after being implicated in a blackmailing scandal.
Benzema however returned to the France national team in 2021 and won the UEFA Nations League.
On the eve of the tournament’s beginning, Benzema missed out on the World Cup in Qatar due to a thigh injury and has expressed his appreciation and desire to retire from international football.
Descamps did not take out Benzema from the squad as it meant if he regained fitness, he could feature in the final.
Benzema aimed to remain with the French team in Qatar yet Descamps and Dr Le Gall disapproved the idea and despite Benzema regaining fitness ahead of the final, he was not called upon by Descamps and this angered him.
“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,” the Frenchman wrote on social media.
The French international did not show up to support his team at the final of the tournament yesterday after France most to Argentina 4-2 on penalties.
With 37 goals, Benzema sits in fifth position on France’s all time top scorer chart and earned 97 caps for Les Blues.