Karim Benzema compared fellow countryman Olivier Giroud to a 'go-kart' earlier this week
Karim Benzema compared fellow countryman Olivier Giroud to a ‘go-kart’ earlier this week (Picture: Getty)

Olivier Giroud has issued a typically classy response after he was unflatteringly likened to a ‘go-kart’ by France outcast Karim Benzema.

Benzema, 32, has continually been left out of Didier Deschamps’ plans since 2015 after he was placed under formal investigation in connection with a sex tape blackmail plot involving team-mate Mathieu Valbuena.

This meant Benzema missed France’s triumphant World Cup campaign in 2018 despite his status as one of the finest attacking players in European football over the last decade.

France's forward Olivier Giroud holds the trophy as he arrives with teammates for a reception at the Elysee Presidential Palace on July 16, 2018 in Paris, after French players won the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match. - France celebrated their second World Cup win 20 years after their maiden triumph on July 15, 2018, overcoming a passionate Croatia side 4-2 in one of the most gripping finals in recent history. (Photo by Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP)(Photo credit should read LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP via Getty Images)
Giroud was one of France’s unsung heroes in 2018 (Picture: Getty)

The Real Madrid superstar has been vocal with his criticism of Deschamps during his years in exile but it was Giroud who felt his wrath during an Instagram Q&A earlier this week.

Asked to compare himself to the Chelsea centre-forward, Benzema said: ‘You can’t confuse an F1 car with a go-kart and I’m being kind.

‘I know I’m a Formula 1 car. It works because he’s there, that’s it. It’s not going to be spectacular.

‘[Antoine] Griezmann and [Kylian] Mbappe get seen more while he rolls his sleeves up and does the dirty work.

‘But does everyone like his game? I don’t know.’

Giroud and Lloris pose with the World Cup trophy
Giroud and Lloris pose with the World Cup trophy (Picture: Getty)

Many questioned Deschamps’ decision to take Giroud to Russia two years ago but the striker hit back at his critics and more than repaid his manager’s faith with some expert link-up play despite finishing the World Cup without a goal.

And Giroud has once again got the last laugh with a perfect put-down of Benzema after his former team-mate’s rather uncomplimentary comments.

Asked about Benzema comparing him to a ‘go-kart’, Giroud told Befoot: ‘What am I, a go-kart?’

‘A world champion go-kart.’

Benzema insists it was never his intention to offend Giroud and claims his comments were taken out of context.

‘Some people only took away things about Giroud and Formula 1, but they didn’t remark what I said about what he’d brought to the French national team,’ Benzema said.

‘They only focused on that, on what I said about Formula 1 and go-karting, but it’s what I think and it’s the truth.

‘Look, if I was asked about R9 [Ronaldo], then he would be the Formula 1 and I would be the go-kart. Short and simple.’

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