Sports
ICYMI: Belgium’s Captain Hazard quits international football
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Eden Hazard announced on Instagram that he is retiring from Belgium duty
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The Real Madrid winger is going to walk away from the team after the World Cup
Eden Hazard has announced he has retired from international football following Belgium’s premature exit from the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The decision was reportedly made after his nation’s elimination from the tournament following a 0-0 draw with Croatia on matchday three. Hazard featured in all three group games but failed to score as Belgium finished third in Group F behind Morocco and Croatia, both of whom have gone onto reach the quarter-finals of the competition.
The 31-year-old revealed the decision on his social media account less than a week after his side were eliminated following a goalless draw with Croatia.
Hazard, who made his Belgium debut as a 17-year-old in 2008, wrote: “A page turns today… thank you for your love. Thank you for your unparalleled support. 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”.
Hazard’s announcement puts an end to an international career that totalled 126 games between 2008 and 2022 – a period in which he registered 33 goals. The 31-year-old’s retirement marks the beginning of the end for Belgium’s so-called ‘Golden Generation’, as manager Roberto Martinez announced he would be leaving his post immediately after their group stage exit.
Hazard made 245 appearances for Chelsea between 2012 and 2019, helping the Stamford Bridge club to two Premier League titles and two Europa League wins.
The Belgian captain secured a mouth-watering €100 million (£88m/$112m) deal with Real Madrid in the summer of 2019, He has endured series of injuries since making his debut for the Spanish side, and has fallen well below the pecking order to Brazilian wonderkids Vinicius junior and Rodrygo Goes.