The future of Karim Benzema with Les Bleues remains up in the air, but the president of the French Football Federation Noel Le Graet has now handed the Real Madrid striker fresh hope over a return from exile.
The Algerian-born forward found himself left out of his nation's UEFA Euro 2016 squad despite scoring 24 goals in Spain last season and winning the Champions League.
The 28-year-old landed in hot water after being implicated and later charged in the plot to blackmail compatriot Mathieu Valbuena with a sex tape. The Blancos’ ace’s unresolved legal issue eventually saw him miss out on the European Championship.
However, speaking in a press conference in the wake of the UEFA Euro 2016 hosts’ 1-0 defeat to Portugal in the final, Le Graet admitted that Benzema has not been banned for life, hinting that he could return to the national side.
"He is not banned for life," Le Graet said (as per Marca).
"This is an ongoing case and we have to see how it evolves.
"The coach had the option not to use him but he wasn't suspended, he chose to leave him out for the benefit of group harmony."
The closest major international competition that the French striker could feature in is the 2018 World Cup, but Benzema will be 30 going on 31 by the time the tournament in Russia kick starts. It is questionable whether the Real Madrid ace will remain a force to be reckoned with until then.
