French football agent shares 'evidence' Benzema could have played in the 2022 World Cup

French-Algerian striker Karim Benzema’s agent published on Monday evidence suggesting that the footballer could have participated in the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Karim Djaziri shared a video purportedly of Benzema’s doctor explaining that his injury was not serious and was simply muscular. The agent added that three specialists confirmed that Benzema could have participated in the final stages of the tournament.

"Benzema could have been fit from the 1/8th to at least be on the bench! Why did you ask him to leave so quickly?” Djaziri asked in a question posted to his Twitter account alongside the video.

Je pose ça là mais avant ça j’ai consulté 3 spécialistes qui confirment le diagnostic que @Benzema aurait pu être apte à partir des 1/8 éme pour au moins être sur le banc ! Pourquoi lui avoir demandé de partir si vite ? pic.twitter.com/wtOHhDeDVW

— Karim Djaziri (@KDjaziri) December 26, 2022

Benzema - who plays for Real Madrid - was expected to lead the line for France in Qatar, but missed his chance after suffering a thigh injury in training the day before the start of the tournament.

He was forced to withdraw from the session at the home stadium of Qatari champions Al Sadd with the injury and was taken for tests.

The French Football Federation (FFF) later said in a statement that the injury "will require a recovery period of three weeks", ruling out any prospect of him being fully fit for the tournament.

France coach Didier Deschamps included Benzema in his World Cup squad publicised on 9 November.

Despite losing several key players - including Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante - due to injuries, the French team made it to the finals, but lost against Argentina in a penalty shootout.

Benzema had previously been frozen out of the France team for five-and-a-half years because of his involvement in a blackmail scandal over a sex tape involving his former teammate Mathieu Valbuena.

This saw him miss France's victorious 2018 World Cup campaign and led to him being handed a one-year suspended prison sentence as well as a fine of €75,000.

Benzema announced his retirement from international football on his 35th birthday, one day the World Cup final.

The New Arab have contacted the French Football Federation for a comment.