Karim Benzema's decision not to sing the French national anthem during his time with the national team was a frequent subject of debate. His former agent, Karim Djaziri, dismissed the controversy, arguing that professional football players are not hired to sing and that silence does not equate to a lack of desire to win. Benzema previously defended his stance in 2013, noting that he should not be forced to sing, referencing other players like Zinédine Zidane who also remained silent. Throughout his career, Benzema earned 97 caps and scored 37 goals, making him the team's sixth-highest scorer, despite his international tenure being interrupted by off-field matters before concluding in 2022.