Karim Benzema was ruled out of the FIFA World Cup 2022 after he sustained a thigh injury in training. The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner was set to play his third World Cup with France after missing out on the 2018 Russia World Cup.
Karim Benzema will miss the World Cup after picking up a thigh injury in training, per multiple sources 💔 pic.twitter.com/3E2NpRQM7A
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 19, 2022
It will be the first time after the 1978 World Cup that the current Ballon d’Or winner will not feature in the World Cup. The Ballon d’Or winner was expected to lead the line for the current World Champions France in this 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Karim Benzema Injury Update
It was revealed in the MRI scan that Benzema has suffered a muscle tear in his thigh. Real Madrid’s number 9 has just played over 26 minutes of football in the past month due to muscular fatigue. France’s manager Didier Deschamps was hopeful that Benzema would recover in time for their opener. This is what Deschamps had to say when asked about Karim Benzema’s unfortunate injury.
“I am extremely sad for Karim, who had made this World Cup a major objective, Despite this new blow for the French team, I have full confidence in my group. We will do everything to meet the huge challenge that awaits us.”
Benzema himself addressed his withdrawal from the squad with a tweet on his Twitter account.
“I’ve never given up in my life but tonight I have to think of the team, as I have always done,” he said. “So reason tells me to give my place to someone who can help our squad have a great World Cup. Thanks for all your messages of support.”
De ma vie je n’ai jamais abandonné mais ce soir il faut que je pense à l’équipe comme je l’ai toujours fait alors la raison me dit de laisser ma place à quelqu’un qui pourra aider notre groupe à faire une belle Coupe du Monde. Merci pour tous vos messages de soutien 🙌🏼❤️ pic.twitter.com/SBalX0juAH
— Karim Benzema (@Benzema) November 19, 2022
The reigning World Champions have lost a number of key players due to injury with Manchester United Star center-back Raphael Varane missing their World Cup opener. The star midfield duo, Paul Pogba, and N’Golo Kante even failed to make it to the 26-man squad. Christopher Nkunku and Presnel Kimpembe were among the others who missed out on the World Cup.
When can Benzema return?
The star French National Footballer is expected to return after three weeks as stated by the French Football Federation in the official statement released earlier. Karim was France’s Top scorer in the 2014 Brazil FIFA World Cup. Benzema has won 5 Champions League titles and including a World Cup medal in his personal trophy cabinet was surely a dream as this might be the last World Cup for the 34-year-old.
