His name will not appear in the list that coach Didier Deschamps will announce on Thursday for the international gathering in March.
Yet it is on the lips of football fans and its partners.
“Benzema is more than a legend,” says Sergio Ramos, emblematic captain of the Merengue club.
The performance of the former Lyonnais Tuesday night also did not go unnoticed by the Madrid… and Italian press.
Spanish newspapers have also regularly greeted the performance of the French for several weeks.
At 33, Karim Benzema is indeed one of the best players in Europe, and in the world, at the moment.
Regularly decisive - he often wears the costume of "savior" even if he does not like the term - for his club, the Real Madrid striker scored a magnificent goal on Tuesday night during the victory (3-1) against Atalanta Bergamo in the round of 16 of the Champions League.
His 70th in this event that he loves so much.
He became the fifth top scorer in C1 behind Cristiano Ronaldo (134), Lionel Messi (120), Robert Lewandowski (72) and Raul (71).
🗣💬 "He is only progressing and we don't know when he will stop. In the game he is exceptional"
🙌 Zidane's great tribute to Benzema pic.twitter.com/NOxAjnTBm0
- RMC Sport (@RMCsport) March 16, 2021
“Karim is incredible, not only in terms of goals, underlines Luka Modric, Golden Ball in 2018. He scores a lot but he also helps the team with his game, his movements.
He's a great player, his statistics prove it.
"
A new high-level performance also greeted by his coach, Zinedine Zidane.
“Since he is there, he has only improved and we do not know when he will stop, greets the former world champion at the microphone of RMC.
We are not talking about the goal, because he is capable of scoring goals, he is a center forward.
But especially in the game, he is exceptional.
What he does, there aren't many players who are able to control the ball, get others to play and not lose the ball.
And by being efficient.
"
In racha.
# KB9 ✈️ pic.twitter.com/gLa7rjZGSw
- Madrid Sports (@MadridSports_) March 16, 2021
“He does us good, we know that his technical quality is enormous, in addition he scores goals, that can only help us, said his compatriot Ferland Mendy.
It's good for us, it's good for him too, it gives him confidence.
"
While Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland or Cristiano Ronaldo are announced to Real for next season, Zidane relishes “to take advantage of Karim Benzema.
"
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Former White House scorer Emilio Butragueño is on the same page and does not hide his admiration for "KB9".
"He's one of the best in the world," says the unfortunate finalist of Euro 1984 in France.
We are lucky to be able to count on a player like him.
As he approaches the surface, he always has this ability to find solutions.
His goal comes from a magnificent gesture from Modric, but we still have to score.
He always knows how to do the right thing.
“To the delight of Real Madrid fans.