Tuesday, September 22, 2026

France striker Karim Benzema retires from international football

The former Olympique Lyonnais striker earned 97 caps and is fifth on France’s all-time goalscorer list with 37 goals.

• December 19, 2022
Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema [ Photo Credit: Hindustan Times]

France and Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has announced his retirement from international football.

Benzema made the announcement on Monday via social media as he celebrated his 35th birthday.

The announcement comes a day after the French team lost to Argentina on penalties in a pulsating 2022 World Cup final in Qatar.

Benzema’s international career saw him ostracised from his country’s national team for over five years after being implicated in a blackmailing scandal involving Mathieu Valbuena.

The former Olympique Lyonnais striker earned 97 caps and is fifth on France’s all-time goalscorer list with 37 goals.

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