Benzema 'turns down invitation to retirement ceremony at the Stade de France'

Karim Benzema has reportedly turned down an invitation to a retirement ceremony at the Stade de France by email.

France face the Netherlands in their opening Euro 2024 qualifier and will then play Ireland away on Monday.

Ahead of the campaign opener, a group of French national team players who recently retired, including Hugo Lloris and Raphael Varane, will be honoured.

However, the Real Madrid striker declined the invitation explaining that 'he was not available', according to L'Équipe.

The 35-year-old announced his retirement from international football last year after missing Les Bleus run to the World Cup final.

He reportedly rejected the opportunity to go back to Qatar after falling out with manager Didier Deschamps.

'I made the effort and the mistakes it took to be where I am today and I'm proud of it! I have written my story and ours is ending,' Benzema wrote on Instagram.

Benzema also rejected an offer from French president Emmanuel Macron to take his personal private jet to the final.

He finished his France career with 37 goals in 97 caps, but his journey with the national team was far from smooth since his debut 15 years ago.

Benzema made his international debut against Austria in March 2007 and scored during his substitute appearance in the second-half.

He was selected for France's Euro 2008 squad but was criticised for his performances in the group stages of the tournament as the team crashed out early.

Despite playing regularly during the qualification campaign, Benzema was left out of France's squad for the 2010 World Cup.

Coach Raymond Domenech insisted it was due to his club form with Real Madrid rather than his alleged involvement in a sex scandal at the time.

Benzema would play at Euro 2012 and World Cup 2014 but his part in the sex tape blackmail plot involving France team-mate Mathieu Valbuena led to a five-year absence from the international fold, which included their victorious 2018 World Cup campaign.

He returned to the France squad for Euro 2020 last year and scored four goals during the tournament to end up as the third-highest goalscorer.

After impressing in the UEFA Nations League finals, Benzema won the first trophy of his time with the national side.

Following an excellent year in which he won the Champions League and the Ballon d'Or, Benzema had expected to be a force in the French attack at the World Cup until his injury intervened.