Sports

Benzema Retires From International Football

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has announced his retirement from international football as he celebrates his 35th birthday following France’s defeat to Argentina in a dramatic 2022 FIFA World Cup final.

Benzema’s 2022 World Cup dream was wrecked by injury last month, as a thigh issue forced him to withdraw from Didier Deschamps’ squad, and return to Madrid.

Deschamps did not call up a substitute for the 34-year-old, despite reports of a possible surprise return to Qatar for the final, suggesting that he was sceptical.

He apparently declined the chance to return to Qatar as a result of a fall out with manager Didier Deschamps, and he has now confirmed on social media that he has opted to end his international career.

Benzema reportedly felt let down by his national team manager, Deschamps, after returning to Madrid without communicating with him.

Deschamps and Benzema have endured a difficult relationship over the years, despite the latter’s return to the national team in 2021.

The Real Madrid striker of Algerian descent did not also make the 2018 FIFA World Cup squad as France won the tournament that year in Russia.

The forward did not play for the Les Bleus for nearly six years after being named in a blackmail scandal involving former team-mate Mathieu Valbuena.

The Ballon d’Or winner wrote on Twitter on Monday: “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.”

Benzema’s announcement comes less than 24 hours after France lost the 2022 FIFA World Cup final to Argentina.

Karim Benzema had 97 caps for France, scoring 37 goals and 20 assists. He won the UEFA Nations League in 2021.

It would be interesting to found if Benzema will renege on his retirement should Deschamps be relieved of his job as head coach of the French national team.

Izuchukwu Okosi

Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc. In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio. He worked there for 13 years until October 2017. Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch. He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations. Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line. Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.