Real Madrid star Karim Benzema deserves a second chance with the French national side, according to World Cup winner Robert Pires.
Benzema has been exiled from the French side for his alleged involvement in blackmailing former teammate Mathiue Valbuena over a sex tape.
During his Benzema's absence, France have reached a European Championship final and also won the 2018 World Cup.
Pires, who won both tournaments with France, feels a striker of Benzema's calibre is deserving of a call-up.
"It's a tricky issue, one that has created and continues to create a lot of debate in France," the ex-Arsenal star told AS.
"I'm not really interested in whatever happened between him and [Mathieu] Valbuena, but given all that he has achieved and is achieving at Real Madrid, of course he deserves a France call-up.
"He's one of the best strikers in Europe. But [Didier] Deschamps has the final say."
