Belgium star Eden Hazard is an attacking midfielder or winger. As a teenager, he made his Belgium debut in 2008 and accumulated a total of 126 caps, scoring 33 goals. He led the charge for Belgium’s “golden generation,” which advanced to the World Cup semi-finals in Russia this year. Despite their high FIFA ranking, the team finished third in Group F, behind Morocco and Croatia, and many of its players are already in their 30s.
Belgium star Eden Hazard announces retirement from international play
Belgium star Eden Hazard announced his retirement from international football on Wednesday, days after the squad went out of the World Cup in the group stage. The 31-year-old forward for Real Madrid wrote on Instagram, “a page flips today.”
“Thank you for your unparalleled support,” he posted on Instagram. “Thank you for all this happiness shared since 2008. I have decided to put an end to my international career. The succession is ready. I will miss you.”
The Belgium team tweeted: “All the best, captain.”
Hazard, the squad s skipper, made an unexpected revelation during the tournament in Qatar, stating the team s best chance to win the World Cup has come and gone. In 2012, the attacker switched from French club Lille to Premier League powerhouse Chelsea, where he has since won the league championship twice.
He signed a huge contract with Real Madrid in 2019. But injuries have prevented him from showing the same level of play he did in England. Rumors of in-fighting in Qatar hounded Belgium, and many of the team s other players, including Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois, have likely played their final World Cup game. After their exit, Belgium coach Roberto Martinez revealed he was leaving his job.
