France striker Karim Benzema announced his retirement from international football on Monday, a day after the national team lost the Qatar World Cup 2022 final against Argentina on penalties.
A day after the French team's Qatar World Cup 2022 final loss to Argentina on penalties, striker Karim Benzema announced his retirement from international football.
"I made the efforts and the mistakes it took to get to where I am today and I'm proud of that! I have written my own story and our story is ending," wrote Benzema on Twitter on his 35th birthday.
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. pic.twitter.com/7LYEzbpHEs
The current Ballon d'Or winner, Benzema, travelled with the French team to Qatar before suffering a thigh injury that prevented him from competing in the World Cup. The Real Madrid star made his debut for his country in 2007 and has scored 37 goals in 97 games.
After Benzema was discovered to have participated in blackmail in a sex video scandal that shook French football, he was banned from the national team for five years.
The Versailles court sentenced Benzema to one year of probation and a fine of EUR 75,000 (USD 80,000) after finding him guilty of taking part in a 2015 effort to blackmail teammate Mathieu Valbuena. Additionally, Valbuena was awarded damages totalling EUR 80,000 from Benzema.
Prior to the 2021 European Championship, France coach Didier Deschamps called him up, and he scored four goals in a Round of 16 loss.
Following the announcement, several fans of Benzema took to Twitter to thank the legendary striker, but there were also those who sparked a meme fest on the micro-blogging site. "Legend, they don't deserve you," noted one supporter, while another added, "Goodbye Champion."
Here's a look at some of the reactions:
Benzema’s international career https://t.co/HpItgoQKl9 pic.twitter.com/t0EdTn2PVg
— Rico (@R35H09)Le comeback de Benzema en EDF pic.twitter.com/eY0woVw6P3 https://t.co/mryntlknQU
— ً (@LaBappance)NOT WHEN EUROS IS IN TWO YEARS....... https://t.co/blbCy5X9aK pic.twitter.com/9XFhaBzXxK
— Kuroko's #1 Fan (#DecimocuartaEra🏆) (@xomyseries)we’re watching benzema close the chapters of his career https://t.co/vKpi33LQsy pic.twitter.com/RErCdcJrHu
— 🌑 (@peakyj_)as if it could get any worse https://t.co/fglDqFkduk pic.twitter.com/itGSdGfE2O
— 🇨🇵❤️🩹 (@ruudbweh)You have to ask yourself where Pogba is in all of this. https://t.co/9KH9bVjgQP pic.twitter.com/SjZilVDb9y
— Muthoni. (@NonnieMacharia)Something must have happened https://t.co/hf7qhmD3JI
— FRANCH KING (@Francesc06)What a day 😭😭💙💙💙 https://t.co/aPAQrQUoWE pic.twitter.com/1ZLUECudol
— Nordic Meat Shield (@MancityGP)Farewell GOAT. https://t.co/QypAzbKGRf pic.twitter.com/lUl1vSpRUx
— Dollar Bill 💲tern (@TshepangTb)Retiring without a World Cup 🚬 https://t.co/85LHziCmsA pic.twitter.com/SWhr79cPGR
— Richie (@Mysterio__01)My mans really wanted to play that final. And he’d have been a great addition and would have made a difference… https://t.co/luw3h6WmIX pic.twitter.com/T1Q3gv8Vzu
— Raw Abiding Citizen (@Mr90Plus)The story https://t.co/fkDPBkRyXq pic.twitter.com/C1lZHJ9dG5
— 🌪 #AttackersOut Musiala2023 (@billahibarkley)Merci, but now it‘s time to talk! https://t.co/p6fjoRMuge pic.twitter.com/P6yLX4ZZTy
— #pivotgang 🥥 (@chocococo21)If only they had you, Benzy.
Goodluck for your future ❤️ https://t.co/NNM9wf1N2I pic.twitter.com/nKJdnuWlQe