Benzema indicates international retirement on social media
France's Karim Benzema watches the ball during a training session at the Jassim Bin Hamad stadium in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. France will play their first match in the World Cup against Australia on Nov. 22. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Christophe Ena]
PARIS (AP) — France forward Karim Benzema has posted a message on social networks indicating that he is retiring from internationals, a day after the national team lost the World Cup final without him. After raising the Ballon d’Or award as the world’s top player to crown his remarkable rise, Benzema’s dream of winning the World Cup was over last month before the tournament in Qatar even started as he tore a muscle in his left thigh during training with Les Bleus. On his 35th birthday, Benzema posted a photo of himself in a France shirt and wrote that “I made the effort and the mistakes it took to be where I am today and I’m proud of it! I have written my story and ours is ending.”
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France's Karim Benzema runs during a training session at the Jassim Bin Hamad stadium in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. France will play their first match in the World Cup against Australia on Nov. 22. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Christophe Ena