Fabinho Believes Benzema Should Still Play for France

As Brazil tune up to face France in the next international break, one of the Seleção’s midfield generals has thrown a pointed compliment across the halfway line. Fabinho, now at Al-Ittihad but once a teammate of Karim Benzema at Real Madrid, believes the 38-year-old should still be leading the line for Les Bleus.

Benzema has not worn the France shirt since 2022. He was named in Didier Deschamps’ squad for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, only to be forced out by injury on the eve of the tournament. The Ballon d’Or winner then drew a line under his international career, announcing his retirement from France duty.

For Fabinho, that decision and that absence do not change the core truth as he sees it: Benzema remains elite.

“Of course, he’s good enough. I think he’s still the best French number 9,” the former Liverpool midfielder told L’Équipe, making his stance unmistakable. He even paused to question the label before doubling down on the player. “Actually, I don’t even know if he’s a true number 9, but Karim is very strong; he makes the difference. He can score, he can create… That’s Karim.”

It is a striking endorsement at a time when France are rich in attacking options yet still carry the shadow of one of their greatest modern forwards. Benzema’s international story may be closed on paper, but for those who shared a dressing room with him, the idea of him walking back into a France squad still feels entirely logical.

Brazil will soon confront the current reality of Deschamps’ side. Fabinho, though, has made it clear: in his eyes, the best French centre-forward is already out there — just no longer in blue.