Karim Benzema to announce shock retirement?

Ballon d'Or 2022 created a stir on Saturday when rumors have surfaced that his career was over.

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Sad news for Benzema fans. Speculation had been rife that Ballon d'Or 2022 is about to announce his retirement from sports, at age 38, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 17/05/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a footballer isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a footballer just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouKarim

For a little while on Saturday evening, #ThankYouKarim was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Karim Benzema was unlike any other footballer we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouKarim”
— @universalObserver, 16 May 2026

“Benzema wasn't retired?”
— @borisB0, 16 May 2026

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