Karim Benzema has called time on his international career following France’s World Cup final defeat at the hands of Argentina.
Born in Lyon to Moroccan parents, Karim Benzema announced his retirement from the French national team.
In a tweet he sent from his official Twitter account on Monday afternoon, Benzema expressed himself in French and said “I made the effort and the mistakes it took to be where I am today and I’m proud of it! I have written my story and ours is ending”
Benzema had 97 caps for the French national team and scored 37 goals. The Real Madrid star made his debut in 2007 at the age of 19 after making his way up to the senior national team from the under 17’s in 2004 where he won the Euros.
In 2010, Benzema was left out of the French World Cup squad in South Africa following lack of game time at his then new club Real Madrid.
In the 2014 edition in Brazil, a lot was expected out of Benzema. He led the front line and netted three times for ‘Les Blues’ appearing 5 games until the quarter-finals exit thanks to the eventual champions, Germany.
In 2015, Benzema was banned from the national team following his arrest on charges of blackmailing Mathieu Valbuena and would miss the 2018 World Cup in Russia as a result. The coach, Didier Deschamps, recalled Benzema to the team for the 2022 edition in Qatar, but the Real Madrid star missed the entire tournament with a thigh injury.
Benz, as he’s affectionately known is the current Ballon d’Or winner, becoming the 5th French footballer to win and the second oldest winner.
He retires as France’s fifth-highest scorer.
