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According to the French football federation, France striker Karim Benzema has been ruled out of the World Cup in Qatar due to an injury sustained in training.
The Ballon d’Or winner was forced to leave defending champions France’s training session earlier on Saturday due to a muscle problem.
“I am extremely sad for Karim who had made this World Cup a major objective. Despite this new blow for the French team, I have full confidence in my group. We will do everything to meet the huge challenge that awaits us,” said coach Didier Deschamps in a statement.
Last season, Benzema had a stellar season with Real Madrid, scoring 44 goals in 46 games across all competitions to help the club win the LaLiga and Champions League double.
He was France’s leading scorer in the 2014 World Cup, but he was not a part of their 2018 World Cup victory, having only returned to the France team last year after a six-year absence.
Following a blackmail scandal and his comment that Deschamps had “bowed to the pressure of a racist part of France” by leaving the forward, a Muslim of Algerian descent, out of the Euro 2016 squad, he was exiled from France.
Benzema has scored 10 goals in 16 international appearances since his return.
“I’ve never given up in my life but tonight I have to think of the team, as I have always done,” Benzema wrote in an Instagram post.
“So reason tells me to give my place to someone who can help our squad have a great World Cup. Thanks for all your messages of support.”
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