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Football President Confirms That Striker's International Career Is Officially Over

Football President Confirms That Striker's International Career Is Officially Over

Karim Benzema hasn't been picked by France since before the 2016 Euros and now he won't be picked ever again.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

If Karim Benzema was ever hoping to get a recall to the France squad, despite around three years out of the side, then the Real Madrid forward is going to be very disappointed.

Karim Benzema is apparently one of the best 30 footballers in the world right now. That's according to the fact the Real Madrid striker is in the Ballon d'Or 30 man shortlist, that was announced earlier this week.

It's not actually been a particularly good year for Benzema but the former Lyon striker still managed to win a third Champions League title in a row with Real, even though he only managed 12 goals all season.

For a lot of his time at the Bernabeu the 30 year old has mainly been used to help Cristiano Ronaldo score, and chip in when chances have fallen his way, but the striker has moved to Juventus.

Benzema hasn't played for his national team since 2015 after a falling out with Didier Deschamps and his involvement with the extortion scam over a sex tape featuring Mathieu Valbuena.

If there were any lingering doubts about if he'd ever get back into the side then French football federation president Noel Le Graet has basically closed to door on the striker. Speaking to local newspaper Ouest France Le Graet said:

"I believe that it's over for him with Les Bleus, especially since he may have been less fit for some time."

Benzema with Valbuena in 2015. Image: PA Images
Benzema with Valbuena in 2015. Image: PA Images

Referring to the Valbuena scandal Le Graet added, "It's been three or four years that (this case) has been dragging. A ruling should have been issued much earlier. It made things hard for us."

The forward was last part of a squad in October 2015 and then claimed that the national team manager gave in to pressure from a racist lobby group to keep him out of the squad for Euro 2016.

Benzema could have been a member of the World Cup winning squad. Image: PA Images
Benzema could have been a member of the World Cup winning squad. Image: PA Images

Since not being in the squad France reached the final of the Euros, on home turf, before becoming world champions for the second time in Russia, beating Croatia in the final.

Olivier Giroud played the Benzema role and failed to get on the scoresheet in Russia but did contribute to the side.

It looks like he'll have to carry on concentrating on life in Madrid.

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Topics: Football News, Nations League, Karim Benzema, France, Real Madrid