BALLON D’Or winner Karim Benzema has been ruled out of the World Cup with a left thigh injury yesterday dealing a serious blow to defending champions France’s hopes of retaining the trophy.

The 34-year-old’s injury – suffered in training earlier yesterday – would require “three weeks of convalescence”, the French Federation said in a statement.

The Real Madrid striker has been struggling with a thigh problem since October and has played less than half an hour of football in his club’s last six games. – AFP, November 20, 2022.