France: Ballon d’Or 2022 winner Karim Benzema has declared that he is retiring from international football, the day after France lost the World Cup final to Argentina.

“I made the effort and the mistakes it took to be where I am today and I’m proud of it! I wrote my story and ours ends,” Benzema tweeted.

J’ai fait les efforts et les erreurs qu’il fallait pour être là où je suis aujourd’hui et j’en suis fier !
J’ai écrit mon histoire et la nôtre prend fin. #Nueve pic.twitter.com/7LYEzbpHEs

— Karim Benzema (@Benzema) December 19, 2022

Before France’s opening World Cup game, the 35-year-old Benzema, who had scored 37 goals for France in 97 appearances, was forced to withdraw from the team due to a left thigh injury. The Ballon d’Or-winning Real Madrid player, who missed out on being chosen when France won the World Cup in Russia four years ago, was anxious to participate in Qatar.

Because of his role in a blackmail scandal concerning a sex tape involving his former teammate Mathieu Valbuena, he was expelled from the France team for five and a half years. In a trial last year he was handed a one-year suspended prison sentence and fined $79,500, as per the report.

Didier Deschamps, France’s current coach, decided against calling up a replacement for the World Cup in Qatar since his team still had depth, notably in the attack, which was spearheaded by 23-year-old Kylian Mbappe.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe claimed the World Cup Golden Boot title with eight goals, including a hat-trick 3-3 tie that sent Argentina to a penalty shootout.

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