Benzema back with the Blues if Zidane becomes national team coach? The response of the French striker

During a live Instagram session with rapper Rohff on Thursday night, Karim Benzema did not completely rule out the possibility of returning to the French national team if Zinedine Zidane were to become the coach.

Karim Benzema and the French national team may not be completely finished. During a live Instagram session with rapper Rohff on Thursday night, the Al-Hilal striker did not completely close the door on a return to the national team.

Questioned on the subject by the rapper if Zinedine Zidane were to succeed Didier Deschamps as the national team coach after the 2026 World Cup, KB9 first pondered his age. By the time of Euro 2028, the next major international competition, Benzema will be 40 years old.

“If I continue to perform and stay in shape, you never know,” explained the former Real Madrid striker. “If there is a place. In any case, I am doing everything to stay in shape.” An open door for the successor of Didier Deschamps who has a good chance of being Zinedine Zidane.

Context: Karim Benzema hints at a possible return to the French national team under Zinedine Zidane’s management if given the opportunity.

Fact Check: Karim Benzema has not played for the French national team since the 2022 World Cup.

A Successful Past at Real Madrid

Zidane and Benzema have already had a successful partnership at Real Madrid. During Zidane’s first experience as a first-team coach at Real Madrid, Benzema was in dazzling form and guided the team to fantastic achievements, including three consecutive Champions League titles (2016, 2017, and 2018). This shared success may fuel Benzema’s desire to work with Zidane again and potentially aim for the Ballon d’Or.

Benzema has made 97 appearances for the French national team, with his most recent being in June 2022 during a UEFA Nations League match. Prior to that, Benzema was absent from the national team for nearly six years, between 2015 and 2021.

The controversy surrounding Mathieu Valbuena’s sextape and Benzema’s comments to the Spanish press, where he suggested that Deschamps had “bowed to the pressure of a racist part of France,” heavily influenced the current coach’s decision to not call up the Madrid forward despite his impressive club performances.