Ballon D'Or winner Karim Benzema has been ruled out of the World Cup with a left thigh injury on Saturday dealing a serious blow to defending champions France's hopes of retaining the trophy.

The 34-year-old's injury – suffered in training earlier on Saturday – would require "three weeks of convalescence", the French Federation said in a statement.

The Real Madrid striker has been struggling with a thigh problem since October and has played less than half an hour of football in his club's last six games.

Benzema underwent medical tests after leaving training injured on Saturday ahead of the defending champions World Cup opener against Australia.

This was the first time Benzema had taken part in full training since Didier Deschamps's squad met up at their French headquarters of Clairefontaine last Monday.

Under Fifa rules Deschamps can call up a replacement for an injured player until Monday, on the eve of their first game against Australia.

Benzema's injury is a major headache for Deschamps, already deprived of the services of midfielders Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante, No 2 goalkeeper Mike Maignan, defender Presnel Kimpembe and forward Christopher Nkunku.

Benzema, who last month won the Ballon d'Or, has not played an entire match since October 19.

He and Raphael Varane trained apart from the rest of the squad on Thursday during a session open to the media at the home stadium of Qatari champions Al Sadd.

Manchester United centre-back Varane has not played a game since coming off in tears against Chelsea on October 22.

Other major football players missing from Qatar 2022 World Cup

Following is a list of players who have been ruled out or are doubtful through injury for the soccer World Cup, which runs from Sunday through December 18.

PAUL POGBA (FRANCE)

Pogba injured his knee in pre-season and underwent surgery in September to repair a damaged meniscus.

The 29-year-old resumed training, but on October 31 his agent said the midfielder would not return to action for Juventus or world champions France before the World Cup.

N'GOLO KANTE (FRANCE)

The Chelsea midfielder suffered a setback in his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury that has restricted him to two league appearances this season. He will be sidelined for four months after undergoing surgery.

GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM (NETHERLANDS)

AS Roma midfielder Wijnaldum fractured his leg in August, ruling him out of the World Cup.

FLORIAN WIRTZ (GERMANY)

Bayer Leverkusen's Wirtz played four times for Germany in 2021, but has not made any appearances for club or country since injuring his knee in March.

MIKE MAIGNAN (FRANCE)

AC Milan keeper Maignan, who has made four appearances for France, was left out of their squad for the World Cup because of a calf injury.

MIKEL OYARZABAL (SPAIN)

Real Sociedad forward Oyarzabal ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during training in March and was unable to recover in time to make Spain's World Cup squad.

TIMO WERNER (GERMANY)

The RB Leipzig forward, 26, sustained an ankle injury during their 4-0 Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk at the start of November and will be sidelined for the rest of 2022.

REECE JAMES (ENGLAND)

The 22-year-old right back injured his knee in Chelsea's Champions League clash against AC Milan in October and said he will not be a part of the England team.

DIOGO JOTA (PORTUGAL)

The Liverpool forward will miss the tournament due to a calf injury sustained in their victory over Manchester City, but the Premier League club's manager Jurgen Klopp said that he would not require surgery.

PEDRO NETO (PORTUGAL)

The 22-year-old Wolverhampton Wanderers winger will undergo surgery on an ankle injury sustained against West Ham United in October.

BOUBACAR KAMARA (FRANCE)

The Aston Villa midfielder suffered a knee ligament injury in September that will keep him out until after the World Cup.

ARTHUR MELO (BRAZIL)

Liverpool's on-loan midfielder picked up a muscle injury in the build-up to a Champions League clash with Rangers in October.

SCOTT KENNEDY (CANADA)

The 25-year-old defender sustained a freak shoulder injury at the end of October while playing for SSV Jahn Regensburg in the German second division.

JESUS 'TECATITO' CORONA (MEXICO)

The Sevilla winger suffered a fracture on his left ankle while he was training with the LaLiga club in August and underwent surgery.

GIOVANI LO CELSO (ARGENTINA)

The midfielder picked up a hamstring injury while playing for Villarreal. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni described him as being "irreplaceable" when naming his squad.

MARCO REUS (GERMANY)

The Borussia Dortmund captain sustained an ankle injury and failed to recover fully in time. Reus also missed the 2014 World Cup after getting injured on the eve of Germany's departure for Brazil, where they won the title.

BEN CHILWELL (ENGLAND)

Left back Ben Chilwell pulled up with a hamstring injury during added time in Chelsea's Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb and said days later he had suffered "significant damage" that would rule him out of the World Cup.

PRESNEL KIMPEMBE (FRANCE)

The Paris St Germain centre back ruled himself out because of a hamstring injury.

YUTA NAKAYAMA (JAPAN)

The defender will miss the World Cup after being ruled out for the rest of the season due to an Achilles injury.

AMINE HARIT (MOROCCO)

Morocco's Olympique de Marseille forward Amine Harit sustained a knee injury during a Ligue 1 match against AS Monaco, ruling him out of the tournament.

SADIO MANE (SENEGAL)

Sadio Mane was named in Senegal's squad for the World Cup despite suffering an injury playing for Bayern Munich, but has been ruled out of the tournament after officials confirmed he would need surgery on the injury.

CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU (FRANCE)

The RB Leipzig forward was included in France's squad for the World Cup, but was ruled out of the tournament after picking up a left knee injury following a tackle from teammate Eduardo Camavinga in training.

JOSE GAYA (SPAIN)

Valencia left back Jose Gaya was withdrawn from Spain's squad for the World Cup in Qatar after suffering an ankle injury in training.

MAXIME CREPEAU (CANADA)

Goalkeeper Crepeau was ruled out of the tournament after breaking his leg while playing for Los Angeles FC in the MLS Cup final earlier this month.

JOAQUIN CORREA (ARGENTINA)

Inter Milan forward Correa was withdrawn from Argentina's squad for the World Cup in Qatar after suffering an injury.

NICOLAS GONZALEZ (ARGENTINA)

Fiorentina forward Gonzalez was withdrawn from Argentina's squad for the World Cup in Qatar due to a muscle injury.

KARIM BENZEMA (FRANCE)

Real Madrid striker and Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema was ruled out of the World Cup for France after suffering an injury in training the day before the start of the tournament. (AFP)

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