Karim Benzema, 35, has played his last game for the French national team.

The star, who earlier this year was named the world's best men's player, announces via his social media that he is ending his national team career.

"I have written my story and ours is ending now," he writes.

Excluded for over five years

Benzema's national team career has been somewhat motley.

In 2015, Benzema and four others were accused of blackmail against teammate Mathieu Valbuena.

He was then excluded from the national team for five and a half years, before coming back for European Championship 2021.

Benzema was given a one-year suspended sentence for complicity in extortion in connection with the scandal.

The striker was selected for the 2022 World Cup, but just before the premiere he injured himself, which meant that he missed the championship.

France reached the final but lost on penalties to Argentina.

Benzema was not present in Qatar when the match was played.

ARCHIVE: Here Benzema received the Ballon d'Or (October 17):

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Here Karim Benzema receives the Ballon d'Or Photo: TT