Benzema recalled by France: Why Real Madrid star spent six years in exile

Karim Benzema has been named in France's 26-man squad for this summer's Euro 2020 tournament, with the Real Madrid star earning a recall from Didier Deschamps to the national team for the first time in six years.

Benzema had been a key figure for France since making his debut in 2007, but the forward fell out of favour with the national team program due to his alleged involvement in the Mathieu Valbuena sex tape scandal.

However, he has now rejoined the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann in the French squad as world champions Les Bleus seek to shine at the Euros this summer.

Coach Didier Deschamps said: "Benzema and I met, we talked at length, then I thought a lot and made this decision."

"So proud of this return to the France team and of the trust placed in me," Benzema said on Twitter.

"Thank you to my family, my friends, my club… and to all those who have always supported me and give me strength every day."

Benzema, who has scored 27 goals for France in 81 appearances, was named as this season's best French player playing abroad by the country's players' association earlier on Tuesday.

He has netted 29 times for Real Madrid this term, passing 20 league goals in all three seasons since Cristiano Ronaldo left the Santiago Bernabeu for Juventus in 2018.

Despite starring for Madrid for several years, Benzema's international career had looked over for some time.

The 33-year-old striker originally made his senior international debut as a teenager in 2007 during his time at Lyon and quickly became a regular for his country.

He amassed 81 caps and 27 goals before his exile began in 2016, appearing in the nation's squads for Euro 2008 and 2012, alongside the 2014 World Cup.

However, despite ongoing success at Madrid, Benzema's international career came to a screeching halt in 2016, with the striker subsequently stating that coach Didier Deschamps had bowed under "pressure from France's racist element"', which the manager has long since denied.

He was also left off the 2018 World Cup squad and, in 2019, Benzema campaigned to be allowed to play for a different national team due to his France exclusion.

"Know that it will be me and me alone who decides when my international career is over," he tweeted.

"If you think that I am finished, let me play for a country that I am eligible to play for and we will see."

Benzema's France absence dates back to the Valbuena sex tape scandal, with the Real Madrid star currently facing trial over his alleged involvement.

He is accused of trying to extort money from his fellow France international ahead of a friendly against Armenia five years ago.

Benzema, however, has denied the allegations repeatedly.

He told L'Equipe in 2017: "He said he would not have lodged a complaint if he knew I was involved in the story. For more than a year and a half, I'm his worst enemy, a bad guy, a thug, I have to be punished, dragged through the mud, my name and that of my family, in the dirt.

"It has been almost two years since I was forbidden to see my best friend [Karim Zenati], if not we go to prison, and he is quiet, but he must stop his crap, and I do not know why he keeps talking about me already.

"[Saying] I am his enemy, I wanted to take money from him... he really has to stop inventing, it makes me mad to keep on lying.

"He just had to tell the truth about what really happened, and he would not have had all of this."

In November 2019, France Football Federation president Noel le Graet seemed to end any hopes of a recall for the French ace, who is Real Madrid's fifth all-time leading scorer.

He said: "For me, Benzema is a very good player. I have never criticised his qualities.

"On the contrary, he is proving again this year at Madrid that he is one of the best players in his position.

"But the adventure with France is over."

While excluded from the French team, Benzema has been ever-present for Real Madrid, consistently proving himself as one of the world's best strikers.

He's scored at least 20 league goals in each of the last three seasons, taking his total to 278 goals in 558 games for the Spanish giants.

Since arriving, Benzema has won La Liga on three occasions, along with four Champions League titles, two Copas del Rey and four Club World Cups as part of an 18-trophy haul.