Current Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema has been ruled out of the 2022 World Cup because of a thigh injury suffered in training in Qatar.
The French National team head coach has expressed his despair with the player’s exit from the squad.
“I am extremely sad for Karim, who made this World Cup a major goal,” said head coach Didier Deschamps.
“In my life, I never give up but tonight I have to think about the team like I always do,” Benzema said.
“So the reason tells me to leave my place to someone who can help our team to make a great World Cup.”
The French Football Federation said that the team shares Karim’s sadness and wishes him a speedy recovery.
The injury was confirmed by an MRI scan and the recovery could take up to three weeks, hence, confirming the French maestro to miss the airborne relevant competition.
France will play Australia on 22 November, Denmark on 26 November and 2004 AFCON champions Tunisia on 30 November in Group D.
Anthony Martial is an option to replace Benzema, who has been struggling with a thigh problem since October and has played less than half an hour in Real’s past six games.
Senegalese Ballon D’or Socrates Award winner Sadio Mane will also miss the World Cup after undergoing surgery on a knee injury he sustained playing for Bayern Munich.
On Tuesday, Senegal’s football federation said Mane, 30, would miss their “first games” at the tournament.
But a further MRI scan was completed on Thursday that showed surgical intervention was needed.
Mane was forced off during Bayern’s Bundesliga win over Werder Bremen on 8 November.
Bayern have confirmed the player “underwent successful surgery” on Thursday, to attach a tendon to the head of his right fibula
“The forward will begin his rehab in Munich in the next few days,” the club added.
Senegal starts their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on Monday. The West Africans are in Group A with games against hosts Qatar (25 November) and Ecuador (29 November) to follow.
