According to reports, Karim Benzema sustained an injury during training and will not play in the World Cup.
The French coaching staff was “very concerned” about the severity of the injury as the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner left the training session on Saturday night.
Following the discovery that Benzema had torn his quadriceps, tests revealed the devastating news that he would not be able to compete in the tournament, according to Le Parisien.
With the goal of winning the World Cup outright and becoming the first nation to do so since Brazil in 1962, France takes on Australia in their opening match on Tuesday.
In addition to scoring 15 goals in the Champions League and winning the League, Benzema had a world-class season in 2021–2022, scoring 44 goals and dishing out 15 assists. He has been limited to just seven league appearances this season due to knee and hamstring problems.
Prior to the competition, the national team put the 34-year-old on a specialized training regimen in the hopes that it would help with his injury issues.
He was supposed to resume full team practice today, but his inability to finish the session casts doubt on his chances of playing at least the first game.
It means that, in Benzema’s absence, one of Olivier Giroud or Randal Kolo Muani has the opportunity to emerge and stake their claim for a spot in the starting XI.
Benzema has scored 10 goals in 16 appearances for Les Bleus since rejoining the international team in 2021 after a few years away due to some off-the-field issues, cementing his position as a key player.
Along with Brazil and Argentina, France is one of the tournament favorites, but Benzema’s injury severely harms their chances of defending their title in Qatar.
Karim Benzema’s message to the fans:
“In my life I have never given up… but tonight I have to think of the team as I have always done so reason tells me to leave my place to someone who can help our group to make a great world cup. Thank you for all your messages of support”.
