The French football association announced on Saturday that France forward Karim Benzema would not be participating in the World Cup in Qatar due to an injury he sustained in training.
The Ballon d’Or winner had to abandon a training session early on Saturday due to a muscle issue that has been bothering him.
In an Instagram post, Benzema stated, “I’ve never given up in my life, but tonight I have to think of the team, as I have always done.
Real Madrid’s Benzema enjoyed a fantastic season with them last year, hitting 44 goals in 46 games across all competitions to help them win the LaLiga and Champions League double.
He was France’s leading scorer at the 2014 World Cup, but despite only joining the team again last year after a six-year sabbatical, he was not a part of their triumph in the 2018 tournament.
Exile from the country was brought on by a blackmail controversy and his statement that Deschamps had “bowed to the pressure of a racist element of France” when he left the forward, a Muslim of Algerian heritage, out of the Euro 2016 team.
Benzema has scored 10 goals in 16 games since his comeback to the international team.
Tuesday’s Group D opener for France will be against Australia, who is already playing without Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante, and Christopher Nkunku due to injuries.
