BREAKING: Ballon d’Or Holder, #Benzema Out Of #Qatar 2022 #FIFAWorldCup—KARIM BENZEMA is “OUT of the World Cup” after tearing his left quad in a training session on Saturday.
The 34-year-old France striker, who won the Ballon d’Or earlier this year, was due to kick-off his World Cup campaign against Australia on Tuesday.
But now he has suffered the heartbreaking news that he will not be able to play any part in this year’s tournament.
Le Parisien are reporting that he went for scans on Saturday night and ultimately the outcome was that he will miss the entirety of the World Cup.
He is the latest in a long line of injured absentees for Didier Deschamps after Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante, Presnel Kimpembe and Mike Maignan were all ruled out of selection.
Raphael Varane and Jules Kounde have been included in the squad, but remain doubts as they recover from their respective injuries.
Benzema played just 26 minutes of football for Real Madrid in November, leading both club and country to raise concerns.
And his unavailability means Deschamps will now almost certainly turn to AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud.
Giroud, 36, is just two goals behind Thierry Henry’s French national team record of 51 – a tally the ex-Arsenal and Chelsea man will have his sights set on in Qatar.
He led the line for France at the 2018 World Cup and played a major role in them lifting the trophy for a second time.
