Xuenou > Sports > Karim Benzema ruled out of World Cup as another star misses out with injury
Karim Benzema ruled out of World Cup as another star misses out with injury
Karim Benzema ruled out of World Cup as another star misses out with injury,Karim Benzema, fresh off the back of his Ballon d'Or triumph, has been ruled out of the entire World Cup in a injury nightmare for France on the eve of the tournament

Karim Benzema ruled out of World Cup as another star misses out with injury

France will be without their Ballon d'Or winning striker Karim Benzema at the World Cup after he suffered a thigh injury on the eve of the tournament.

News broke of the 34-year-old's injury woe late on Saturday evening (November 19), with the Real Madrid star suffering the damage during a training session in Qatar.

The update comes as a huge blow for Didier Deschamps and his squad ahead of their opening group clash against Australia on Tuesday, with Denmark and Tunisia coming after.

READ MORE: Daily Star writers predict World Cup with more heartbreak expected for England

Despite already suffering from a hamstring injury prior to the tournament, it is his thigh that means he cannot play in the Middle East following a scan.

Benzema was taken to Aspetar Hospital in Doha for an MRI test which confirmed the fears of the French who then chose to remove him from the squad.

The forward joins Christopher Nkunku in missing the tournament through injury having been named in the squad, with Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante, Mike Maignan earlier losses.

Can France still win the World Cup with their injury nightmare? Tell us in the comments section below.

DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 19: Karim Benzema of France during Team France practice ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Al Sadd SC Stadium on November 19, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.
Karim Benzema was named in the France squad despite injury doubts (Image: Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 22: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid is presented with the Ballon d'Or trophy prior to during the LaLiga Santander match between Real Madrid CF and Sevilla FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 22, 2022 in Madrid, Spain.
Karim Benzema is in the form of his career despite being 34 (Image: Getty Images)

Benzema has been in the form of his career over the past two-and-a-half seasons with 80 goals across his last 104 appearances, with 10 international goals since his comeback in 2021.

Having been away from France duty since 2015, Benzema returned last year to score nine goals in 13 fixtures, netting against Denmark most recently back in June.

Speaking earlier this month to TF1, Deschamps had mentioned the condition of Benzema in relation to the previous hamstring worry.

France's head coach Didier Deschamps (L) speaks with France's Intendant Bachir Nehar during a training session at the Jassim-bin-Hamad Stadium in Doha on November 19, 2022, ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament.
Didier Deschamps faces a selection dilemma with injury woes (Image: Getty Images)

He said: "He [Benzema] knows that the World Cup is a very important moment for him. He will do everything, like the whole group, to be ready on November 22.

“There was a period where Benzema played too much and is now paying the price with small injuries. But he knows the World Cup is important."

Although Benzema won't be available, the French frontline still has an abundance of talent including Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe.

READ NEXT:

  • Two thirds of football fans would prefer Premier League title over England World Cup win

  • Incredible XI of players not at World Cup 2022 – including both Haaland and Salah

  • Six surprise breakout stars of World Cup tournaments who were unknown beforehand