Benzema announced his retirement from the French national team

News Network, December 20 — French striker Benzema, who plays for Real Madrid Club of Spain, announced on the 19th that he would withdraw from the French national team.

Benzema chose to announce the news on his 35th birthday. He posted a photo of himself wearing the shirt of the French national team on the social platform, with an article saying: “I have made the necessary efforts and made the mistakes I should have made. I am proud of all this. I have written my own story, and the story that belongs to us is coming to an end.” This short passage means that his “gratitude and resentment” with the French national team will come to an end.

Benzema made his national debut in the friendly against Austria in March 2007. Later, he participated in the Euro 2008, Euro 2012 and World Cup 2014 with the French team. But from the end of 2015, he was rejected by Deschamps’ French national team because he was involved in the extortion case of French player Walbouena. It was during his absence that the French team ushered in one of the most brilliant periods in its history: the team won the runner up at the European Championships in 2016 and won the championship at the Russian World Cup in 2018.

In 2021, Deschamps was forced by external pressure to recruit Benzema again. Although Benzema scored four goals in the European Championship, it was a pity that France was not in the last eight. In October of the same year, Benzema helped the team win the UEFA Champions League, which was the only trophy he ever lifted in the national team.

In Qatar World Cup, Benzema was selected into the French national team as the winner of the new Golden Ball Award. However, at the beginning of the match, he injured his left leg in training. Coach Didier Deschamps made a quick decision to let him leave the team. Benzema’s dream of the World Cup has once again failed. Only one day after France lost the final, Benzema, who had already returned to Madrid, announced the end of his national team career.

So far, Benzema has made 97 appearances in the national team uniform and scored 37 goals. He is the fifth player to score goals in the history of the French national team.