A day after France’s defeat to Argentina in the World Cup final, Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema made the announcement that he was leaving the France national team.
I’m proud of myself for putting in the effort and making the errors necessary to get to where I am today. On Twitter, the 35-year-old Real Madrid striker stated, “I wrote my tale, and ours concludes.
Aside from missing France’s opening World Cup match in Qatar due to injury, the current Ballon d’Or winner also missed the tournament. In 97 games, he netted 37 goals for France.
The Real Madrid midfielder, who won the Ballon d’Or in October, was desperate to participate in Qatar after being left off the team that led France to victory at the World Cup in Russia four years ago.
He was banned from the France team for five and a half years as a result of his involvement in a sextape involving his former colleague Mathieu Valbuena and a blackmail controversy.
Karim Benzema received a 75,000 euro ($79,500) fine and a year’s probation at a trial last year.
Didier Deschamps decided against calling up a replacement for the World Cup in Qatar since France still had depth in their roster, particularly in the attack led by Kylian Mbappe, a 23-year-old.
With eight goals, including a hat-trick in Sunday’s loss to Argentina on penalties after a 3-3 draw in extra time, Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe claimed the World Cup Golden Boot title.
