'He's the best striker in the world': Eden Hazard hails Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema following claims from France that his international career is over
Benzema's hopes of a return to the France fold were shot down by its FA president Noel Le Graet last week.
Calls had been growing for the in-form Madrid striker to earn his first call-up since 2015 in recent weeks but the 31-year-old has been exiled from the set-up due to his involvement in the blackmail of Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape in 2015.
Hazard, who made the move to the Bernabeu last summer, has praised Benzema.
"After having played with him for three or fourth months, I think that, right now, he's the best striker in the world," he said.
"But [also] away from his role as a striker, he makes others better."
"I feel for him. It's always easier to play against a team that doesn't have Benzema in it."