Eden Hazard, a forward for Belgium, has declared his retirement from international competition.
Following Belgium’s shocking group-stage elimination from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Hazard made the announcement on Tuesday via Instagram.
I have decided to terminate my international career, he wrote in the post. The successors are prepared.
“A page turns today… Thank you for your love,” he continued. I appreciate your exceptional assistance. I appreciate all of the joy we have enjoyed since 2008, and I will miss you.
The expectation from the second-ranked national football team in the world exceeded departing at the group stage, despite Kevin De Bruyne, a fellow Belgian star, declaring the team had no chance of winning the World Cup this year because it is “too old.”
The Belgian squad, which finished third in Group F after defeating Canada, losing to Morocco, and playing to a scoreless tie with Croatia, was captained by Hazard, who participated in all three of the team’s games.
In 126 appearances since making his international debut in 2008, the 31-year-old has scored 33 goals. He aided Belgium in winning the third-place playoff against England and advancing to the 2018 World Cup semifinals, where they fell to eventual champions France. Roberto Martinez, the coach of Belgium, also resigned in the wake of the devastating loss in Qatar.
