Benzema, who has scored 30 goals in all competitions for Real Madrid this season, has not played for France since 2015 after a blackmailing scandal over which he faces a trial in October.
Spain coach Fernando Hierro said he had no regrets at taking the job two days before the World Cup despite his side's second-round exit at the hands of hosts Russia on Sunday.
'I'm very happy and I can say that 2016 was the best year of my career, the trophy shows that people aren't blind and watch the games.'
Only Brazilian superstar Neymar Junior (0.68), Ali Ashfaq (0.68) of Maldives and Edin Dzeko (0.63) of Bosnia have a better strike rate then Chhetri.
In playing terms, both are the leaders of their teams but they take very different approaches to their role. While Bale is widely acclaimed as an inspiration for his national team, Ronaldo's influence on Portugal is the subject of debate. Gareth Bale is constantly encouraging his team mates and is described by his manager as "the most down-to-earth boy you could meet."
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has asked FIFA why the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was not used to review two key decisions they believe hindered their side during Sunday's 1-1 draw with Switzerland.
'We were not lying yesterday when we said in the press conference Iran is a tough team'
A round-up of Tuesday's action in the UEFA Champions League.
Having spent so long depending on the outrageous individual talent of striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Swedes have often wondered what the future holds after his retirement. Their UEFA Under-21 championship-winning side may just have provided the answer.
The Indian football team moved a place up to 168 in the latest FIFA rankings issued on Thursday.
The Euro 2020 soccer Championship, trumpeted as a continent-wide feast of football from Dublin to Baku to mark UEFA's 60th anniversary, was postponed for a year on Tuesday as the coronavirus pandemic claimed its biggest sporting casualty yet. Europe's flagship tournament, staged every four years and second only to FIFA's World Cup in terms of prestige in soccer, will now be staged from June 11 to July 12, 2021.
Each Round of 16 game was entertaining. Laxmi Negi/Rediff.com picks the games to remember.
Fernando Hierro now in charge of the team, Spain's next game is against Group B leaders Iran on Wednesday.
The rank outsiders beat the Czech Republic 1-0 with a silver goal from defender Traianos Dellas in the second semi-final of the Euro 2004 football tournament.
Banned former FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he feels the soccer World Cup underway in Moscow is a little bit like "my World Cup" because he has been so well received on his visit to Moscow.
Manchester United football team manager Louis van Gaal would reportedly like to sign Real Madrid's ace striker Cristiano Ronaldo, but he does not expect the Spanish giants to sell.
Dutchman Wim Koevermans's stint as coach of the Indian football team started on a positive note as Portugal-returned skipper Sunil Chhetri and Anthony Pereira's strikes propelled the hosts to a 2-1 win over Syria in the Nehru Cup opener in Delhi on Wednesday.
Real Madrid star striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who defeated Barcelona star Lionel Messi to clinch the Ballon d'or award for the fourth time, has said the victory celebrations have been tarnished by allegations of tax fraud. Ronaldo, who lifted the coveted award after inspiring Zinedine Zidane's side to the Champions League glory and Portugal to the European Championship 2016 trophy, said the allegations have been hard to bear for himself and his loved ones and also "partly spoiled the pleasure" of winning the coveted award.
Three South American sides have accounted for almost half of all World Cup titles but their worst overall performance since 2002 has raised the question: Is South American football on the wane?
Bayern Munich edged past Werder Bremen 2-1 on Saturday for a Bundesliga record 13th consecutive win over them to stay three points clear at the top of the table.
In news that will delight hordes of Indian football fans, India captain Sunil Chhetri has reportedly joined Portugal's premier league club Sporting Lisbon.
Paul Pogba could spearhead Manchester United's Premier League title challenge if the playmaker can be lured back to Old Trafford, the club's former midfielder Paul Ince has said.
Could a runaway celebrity cow replace the late Paul the 'oracle' octopus as the next animal with the ability to foretell the fortunes of Germany's national soccer team?
It was Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo's former long-term girlfriend Irina Shayk who dumped him.
Manuel Neuer became the first goalkeeper since 2002 to make the final short list for the FIFA world player of the year award on Monday when he was included alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the final three.
Will it be Cameroon's Issa Hayatou or Spain's Angel Maria Villar?
Nike will supply apparel, footwear and equipment to India's various football teams.
Hollywood beauty Margot Robbie has a new high-profile admirer.
Professional soccer leagues around Europe are gearing up for a return to action following the novel coronavirus stoppage, but some are more advanced than others.
A round-up of Tuesday's action in the UEFA Champions League.
Cristiano Ronaldo will not be the only number seven hoping to redeem himself when his Portugal side meet Austria in their Euro 2016 group F match in Paris on Saturday. Ronaldo's less heralded opposite number for Austria, Marko Arnautovic, also came into the tournament with high hopes only to start with a below-par display made worse by a sulky attitude.
A summary of Saturday's UEFA World Cup qualifiers.
A hat-trick by in-form Scotland midfielder James Forrest earned them a 3-2 home win over Israel in the Nations League and promotion to the competition's second tier on Tuesday.
Can the England captain inspire his team to their maiden Euro triumph? Have your say.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
The World Cup lost its headline acts on Saturday as the game's two biggest stars, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, readied to leave Russia after their teams were eliminated in the round of 16. Messi's Argentina lost 4-3 to France and hours later Ronaldo's Portugal went down 2-1 to Uruguay, leaving the tournament without its two best known and most loved players.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Football fans in Goa are shaking off their sussegado and becoming an animated, raucous, even belligerent lot.
Opponents of FIFA President Sepp Blatter should run against him instead of merely criticising his decision to go for another term at the helm of world soccer's governing body, Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said on Friday.
