Karim Benzema has been playing phenomenally at the club level. He has become the talisman for Real Madrid after Cristiano Ronaldo left the club back in 2018.
The 35-year-old has achieved a cult status as one of the world’s best center-forwards. He has amassed over 300 goals for Los Blancos, while also scoring 37 times for his national side, France.
After missing the initial stages of the FIFA World Cup 2022 due to injury, it was reported that Benzema had made himself available for selection in the French national side.
Didier Deschamps did have the option of calling Benzema back to the squad since he had not called for the 35-year-old’s replacement.
Official. Karim Benzema announces his retirement from international football 🚨🇫🇷 #Benzema
He leaves the French national team. pic.twitter.com/FQMNi0TFu1
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 19, 2022
However, the Chief French Tactician did not exercise the option of calling him back to the squad.
Subsequently, France went on to face defeat at the hands of Lionel Messi‘s Argentina in the World Cup Final.
After the final, reports of Karim Benzema retiring from International Soccer have been coming in from reputed sources like Fabrizio Romano.
Why did Karim Benzema Miss FIFA World Cup 2022?
After a truly amazing 2021/22 season, Benzema was honored with the Ballon d’Or in 2022, making him the best player in world soccer. However, he did not have nearly as good a start to this season. Benzema was plagued with injuries in the early stages of the 2022/23 season, which kept him out of action for Real Madrid and also put some doubts over his availability for the World Cup.
Benzema is the first Ballon d’Or winner to miss the World Cup in 44 years 😢 pic.twitter.com/wtPikMdW7F
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 20, 2022
Nevertheless, he was named in the French roster which was to fly to Qatar for the World Cup. However, the Frenchman had to pull out of the squad on account of a persistent thigh injury. Reports of Benzema having left the French camp in Qatar to regroup in Madrid came out. Subsequently, it was reported that he has been successful in rehabilitation and had recovered fully from his injury before the World Cup ended.
Karim Benzema will be available for France against Argentina in the World Cup final pic.twitter.com/J24oKvScqA
— SITSO (@OfficialSitso) December 14, 2022
It was also reported that shortly thereafter, the Real Madrid man sought and was granted permission to make himself available for his national side coach, Didier Deschamps, in case he needed to be called upon for the final against Argentina.
However, Deschamps never called the Frenchman back to the squad, and France went on to finish as runners-up in the World Cup Final.
Following the result of the Final, Karim Benzema officially retired from International soccer.
Karim Benzema’s rivalry with French manager Didier Deschamps
Real Madrid star Karim Benzema and France National Men’s soccer team head coach Didier Deschamps have not been on the best of terms since 2015.
The French manager refused to select Benzema for the National team for five years, following Karim’s involvement in a scandal with former teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
After being left out of the squad for five years, one can imagine that relations between the pair must have been at an all-time low.
🗣| “Benzema is not coming with us to sit on bench.” – Deschamps #EURO2020 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/gmY0zo6TKb
— BlancoReport (@BlancoReport) May 18, 2021
However, Deschamps’ decision changed before Euro 2020, when suddenly Benzema was rewarded for his fine showing at the club level by being recalled to the national team by the coach. Benzema, in turn, rewarded his manager by scoring 4 goals in as many games at the Euros.
Relations did seem to be improving between the pair since then. That was, until the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Even after recovering from injury and being available to be selected for games in time, and coming off the best season of his career (2021/22), French manager Deschamps refused to select Benzema for the final of the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Karim Benzema and Didier Deschamps always have relationship issues man pic.twitter.com/cA1dRWVNsN
— Egal (@EGTVEgal) December 18, 2022
Thereafter, reports of the alleged incident involving a refusal on Benzema’s part were pouring in. He refused to fly to Qatar to watch the World Cup Final in French President Emmanuel Macron’s private jet. It was rumored that this was primarily due to his broken relationship with Deschamps.
Fans and pundits have argued and speculated as to what the reason behind this might be.
While many believe that Deschamps did not want to disturb the existing attacking ecosystem of his team in which Olivier Giroud was thriving, others believe that the French team could probably have been better in an attacking sense had Benzema been leading the line after Giroud picked up an injury and had to leave the pitch.
Anyhow, it seems that the decision to not include him in the lineup was the final nail in the coffin. Benzema retired from International soccer less than 24 hours after the final whistle.