Karim Benzema‘s off-the-field troubles have come full circle as the Real Madrid striker has publicly announced that he has been left off the France roster for Euro 2016.
France manager Didier Deschamps released his official roster for the tournament this summer, but his active-scoring leader did not make the cut – much to Benzema’s disappointment:
Malheureusement pour moi et pour tous ceux qui m’ont toujours soutenu et supporté. Je ne serai pas sélectionné pour notre Euro en France…
— Karim Benzema (@Benzema) April 13, 2016
Benzema was arrested for blackmailing France teammate Mathieu Valbuena in November 2015 and subsequently suspended by Deschamps. The incident – which Benzema is still waiting to be resolved in court – earned him public denunciation from French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, who called for his removal from the team back in December.
With 27 goals in 81 appearances, Benzema has the eighth-most goals in team history. The 28-year-old striker previously expressed hope that he would be allowed to play. However, he was not featured in either of the March friendlies, and has not been called up to the team since October.
On the club level, Benzema has scored at least 20 goals in eight of his last nine seasons between Real Madrid and his former club Lyon.
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