Karim Benzema Refuses Ruling Out France Return

"If I’m called up for the National Team, I’ll go", Karim Benzema Refuses Ruling Out France Return

Aishik Das

Published - Dec 11, 2025, 10:56 PM

3 min

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"If I’m called up for the National Team, I’ll go", Karim Benzema Refuses Ruling Out France Return

Summary

Karim Benzema has kept the doors open for a comeback to the French national team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Benzema has played in only one World Cup so far, the 2014 one.

Karim Benzema has been one of the best players France has in the modern generation. He has, at times, gone under the radar despite starring performances for the clubs he represented so far.

Benzema is currently plying his trade in Saudi Arabia for Al Ittihad. At the age of 37, he still hopes for a return to the France national football team despite his limited appearances since the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In 2010, he was snubbed by the then-coach of France, Raymond Domenech. He performed well in 2014, but soon found himself in a controversy that kept him out of the French national team for the 2018 World Cup.

Things have changed a lot since then, as Karim Benzema France return might be on the cards. Let's learn what Karim Benzema had to say on his potential return to the national team.

Karim Benzema Won't Say No if His Country Calls Him

In an exclusive interview with L'Equipe, while being asked about a possible Karim Benzema comeback to the national team, the Frenchman made it clear that he wouldn't give up the chance to play for the national team once again. He said that especially if it's the World Cup, he won't say “No”, as its a trophy that has still eluded him.

But who doesn’t want to play in the World Cup? Everyone wants to play in it. I love football and competition, so if I say no to going to the French national and playing in the World Cup, I’d be a liar. I’m a football player, I play football. If I get the call, I’m going and I’ll play football. If I’m called up for the national team, I’ll go to play football, that’s it.”

Karim Benzema last featured for the France national team in 2021, where he scored one of the two goals for France against Spain to hand them their first-ever UEFA Nations League title. He was a part of the 2022 World Cup squad but picked up an injury in training just days before the commencement of the tournament.

Although he left the squad under controversial circumstances, he never made his international retirement public, which keeps the hopes of the French fans alive for a possible Karim Benzema comeback one last time at football's grandest stage.