Karim Benzema isn’t shutting the door on Les Bleus just yet.
At 37, the Al-Ittihad striker has openly admitted he would be ready to return to the French national team if the call comes for the 2026 World
Cup.
Speaking to L’Équipe, the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner made it clear that the lure of football’s biggest stage still burns bright.
“But who doesn’t want to play in the World Cup? Everyone wants to play in it,” Benzema said. “I love football and competition. If I said no to playing for France at a World Cup, I’d be lying. If they call me, I’ll come back.”
It’s a statement that reopens a chapter many believed was firmly closed.
Benzema’s Rocky Relationship With Les Bleus
Benzema’s relationship with the French national team has been anything but smooth. He was left out of the 2010 World Cup squad, played only once at the tournament level in 2014, and was exiled for years following the infamous sextape case involving former teammate Mathieu Valbuena. That episode kept him out of the squad during France’s 2018 World Cup triumph.
His redemption arc arrived in 2021, when his extraordinary form at Real Madrid forced a recall. Benzema helped France win the Nations League and scored four goals at Euro 2020, briefly reclaiming his place among Les Bleus’ leaders.
Then came Qatar 2022 — and more heartbreak. Picked for the World Cup, Benzema suffered an injury in his very first training session and withdrew before the tournament began. His quiet exit from camp and subsequent comments deepened tensions with head coach Didier Deschamps.
Weeks later, Benzema announced his international retirement, seemingly drawing the curtain.
Now, that certainty is wobbling.
Despite stepping away in 2022, Benzema insists his competitive fire hasn’t dimmed. With France transitioning into a new era led by Kylian Mbappe, the idea of a veteran comeback remains unlikely — but not impossible.
For now, Benzema has made one thing clear: if France come calling, he won’t hesitate.
