Eden Hazard has announced that he is retiring from international football with immediate effect. In an emotional post on his Instagram, the Real Madrid player confirmed that he will be hanging up his boots as a Red Devil after the dissapointing exit from the World Cup. Hazard said “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”.
There are many greats of the modern game, and once the dust settles on his career, Hazard will surely go down as one of the greatest Belgian players to don the shirt. Since 2008 he amassed an impressive 126 caps, 33 goals and 36 assists, being a crucial player in the sides run to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018. The former Lille and Chelsea man played for Belgium at all levels, from U15 right up to the first team.
In three World Cups, Hazard managed 14 appearances, scoring three goals and providing four assists. At the European Championships he played 9 matches, grabbing just one goal and five assists.
Hazard was captain of the Golden Generation of Belgian football, whose time at the top came to a disappointing end with a group stage exit from Qatar. His club future is also uncertain, with the move to Real Madrid in 2019 not panning out in the way the player and the club hoped.
