Karim Benzema (35) played the best season of his career last year and deservedly won the Golden Ball. He should have crowned the season with a performance at World Championship in Qatarbut missed the World Cup due to a thigh injury.

Photo: BENOIT TESSIER

The French striker was not part of the national team at the WC 2018 and his appearance in Qatar was a dream come true. national team menu, Didier Deschampssaid that Benzema himself made the decision to leave the national team in the middle of the World Cup, although there was a possibility that he could play in the knockout phase of the tournament.

– Karim told me himself that he will not be ready. When he was injured, our doctor accompanied him to the clinic for an examination. Karim forwarded the results to someone in Madrid and there he got another opinion. He returned to the hotel around midnight and told me it was over – said Deschamps and added…

– We found ourselves in his room with our doctor who gave us the findings. Karim was sad because this World Cup meant a lot to him. We were together for another 20 minutes, and when I was leaving I told him there was no rush and to organize his return with the manager. When I woke up he was gone. It was his decision, I won’t tell you otherwise, I understand and respect it.

Photo: ANNEGRET GREETINGS

Deschamps received a response from Benzema, who posted a screenshot of the manager’s quote on Instagram with the caption “how dare you” and a clown sticker.

In the meantime, Benzema said goodbye to the ‘Tricolor’. The day after France’s defeat in the final against Argentina, he announced that he would no longer play for the national team.