Real Madrid striker Karim Mostafa Benzema has been named as the best French player playing abroad by the UNFP (France's National Union of Professional Football Players); at the same time, getting a recall for the first time in five years by France coach Didier Deschamps to his 26-man squad for Euro 2020, despite facing trial for alleged blackmail.
The Madridista frontman saw off competition from Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Kanté (Chelsea) and Ousmane Dembelé (Barcelona) to reclaim the UNFP awards he last won in 2019, after plundering 29 goals and eight assists this term.
On his call up, after being a key player for Deschamps between 2012 - 2015 when he took over from Laurent Blanc, the two men fell out over Benzema's alleged involvement in the Mathieu Valbuena sex tape scandal.
Benzema will form a front three with Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann, who are both big fans of the returning striker. The national team coach will announce his squad on Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET live on French television.
Euro 2020, suspended from last summer because of the coronavirus pandemic, kicks off on June 11. France is in Group F along with Hungary, Portugal and Germany.
