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.
He said, “Today a page turns… I appreciate your affection. I appreciate your exceptional assistance. I appreciate you sharing all of this joy with me since 2008… You are missed by me.
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.”
Hazard featured in all three games for the European team in Group F while serving as captain of the Belgium squad. Belgium finished third in the group after defeating Canada, falling to Morocco, and playing Croatia to a scoreless tie.
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.
