France have announced that striker Karim Benzema will miss the 2022 World Cup after picking up a thigh injury in training.
The Real Madrid attacker has struggled to stay fit throughout the 2022-23 season but nevertheless earned an expected place in Didier Deschamps's 26-man squad.
Benzema has missed nine Real games through injury this term, having suffered a knee issue against Celtic in the Champions League in October before dealing with pre-World Cup muscular fatigue.
On Saturday evening, Benzema's injury woes were seemingly over, as the Ballon d'Or winner took part in training with the rest of the team ahead of their World Cup opener with Australia on Tuesday.
However, the 34-year-old then sustained another muscular problem while running and had to leave the session early to undergo an MRI scan.
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There were fears straight away that Benzema's issue could have rendered him unavailable for the tournament in Qatar, and France have now confirmed the worst.
Les Bleus have revealed that Benzema's thigh injury requires a three-week recovery period, and as a result the prolific attacker will not play at the 2022 World Cup.
A statement on fff.fr read: "Hit in the quadriceps of the left thigh, the Real Madrid striker is forced to give up participating in the World Cup. Karim Benzema was forced to cut short the collective training session after feeling pain in the quadriceps of his left thigh.
"He went for an MRI at a hospital in Doha, which unfortunately confirmed a femoral rectus injury, which will require a three-week recovery period. After having exchanged with Dr. Franck Le Gall then the Real Madrid striker, Didier Deschamps recorded Karim Benzema's package for the World Cup."
Deschamps has until Monday to call up a replacement for the World Cup, but the France coach hinted that he would stick with the 25-strong group for the competition.
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"I am extremely sad for Karim who made this World Cup a major goal. Despite this new blow for the French team, I have full confidence in my group. We will do everything to meet the huge challenge that awaits us," Deschamps added.
The striker uploaded a post on Instagram not long after his withdrawal was made official, which read: "In my life I never give up but tonight I have to think about the team like I always do so the reason tells me to leave my place to someone who can help our team to make a great world cup. Thank you for all your messages of support."
Benzema joins a lengthy list of star names to miss out for France at the World Cup, with Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante, Mike Maignan, Presnel Kimpembe and Christopher Nkunku also watching on from home.
As was the case with Benzema, Nkunku suffered a training injury on Tuesday, colliding with Eduardo Camavinga on the Clairefontaine turf and subsequently sustaining a knee injury.
The RB Leipzig man is now feared to be facing a couple of months on the sidelines, and Eintracht Frankfurt's Randal Kolo Muani was called up to join Olivier Giroud, Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele, Kingsley Coman and Marcus Thuram as Deschamps's attacking options.
France begin the defence of their title against Australia in Group D on Tuesday before meeting Denmark on November 26 and Tunisia on November 30.
Ben Knapton
