France forward Karim Benzema has been ruled out of the Qatar 2022 World Cup after picking up an injury in training.
The 34-year-old had been nursing a knee and hamstring injury coming into the World Cup and stayed on the sidelines for Real Madrid for weeks.
The French national team revealed on Saturday that star striker Karim Benzema will miss the entire competition owing to an injury he acquired after sustaining a knock to his left thigh.
The reigning Ballon d’Or winner in an Instagram post wrote, “In my life, I have never given up but tonight I have to think about the team, as I have always done, so reason tells me to leave my place to someone who can help our group make a good World Cup. Thank you for all your messages of support.”
France is already without N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba and Christopher Nkunku, who limped out in training last Wednesday.
France are in Group D and will play Australia on 22 November, Denmark on 26 November and Tunisia on 30 November.