Karim Benzema’s last appearance for the French national team dates back to October 2015. Since then, the Real Madrid striker has remained absent from Les Bleus, largely due to the infamous sextape scandal involving former teammate Mathieu Valbuena. The controversy, which deeply affected the squad’s atmosphere at the time, led to his prolonged exclusion from the national setup and has continued to overshadow his international career.
Despite consistently delivering outstanding performances at club level, Benzema has not been recalled. Over the years, his situation has sparked repeated debate among fans and observers, many of whom have questioned why one of France’s most talented forwards has remained sidelined.
This Saturday, Noël Le Graët, president of the French Football Federation, once again addressed the matter during an interview with RMC Sport. While acknowledging Benzema’s quality and form, Le Graët made it clear that a return to the national team is not being considered.
“Karim Benzema is a very good player, I have never doubted his qualities. On the contrary, he is showing at Real Madrid that he is one of the best players in his position. But his time with the French national team is over,” he stated firmly.
The comments quickly drew a reaction from Benzema himself. The striker responded publicly, suggesting that he still feels capable of competing at the highest level and hinting at the possibility of representing another nation if given the opportunity.
“If you think I’m done, let me play for one of the countries I’m eligible for and we’ll see,” Benzema declared, in what appeared to be a message aimed directly at federation officials.
Born in France to Algerian parents, Benzema has often been linked with the Algerian national team, known as the Fennecs. However, any potential switch is impossible under current FIFA regulations. Having already earned 81 caps for France in official competitions, the forward is permanently tied to Les Bleus and cannot represent another country.
As a result, despite his desire to prove himself internationally again, Benzema’s chapter with the French national team seems definitively closed.
