Karim Benzema Announces His Retirement From France On His 35th Birthday.

 Karim Benzema has announced his retirement from international football just less than 24 hours after France’s dramatic defeat to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final.

Benzema who turned age 35 today, was included in the France team to play in Qatar but picked up a thigh injury a day to the start of the tournament.

There was some speculation that the 35-year-old could return for the final against France after being invited by the country's President Emmanuel Macron.

However, he reportedly rejected the opportunity to go back to Qatar after reportedly falling out with manager Didier Deschamps, according to Daily Mail.

In a Twitter post on Monday afternoon Benzema wrote, “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.”

Despite a six-year gap in his international career, Benzema made 97 caps and scored 37 goals since making his debut in 2007. The furthest he made it was a quarter-final at the Euros in 2021 and the same stage at the World Cup in 2014.

He missed the 2016 Euro final and the 2018 World Cup victory after he was dropped from the French team by Didier Deschamps, when it was found and he was later convicted of helping to blackmail teammate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape.

The current Ballon d’Or holder will now return to being able to recover to full fitness and focus on what are likely his final years at Real Madrid.

Benzema was the top scorer in Spain’s La Liga and the UEFA Champions League in the 2021/22 season, as Real Madrid won both competitions.