Qatar 2022: Hazard retires from international duty
Only three players have made more appearances in Belgium’s history, and only Romelu Lukaku has scored more goals
Chelsea legend Eden Hazard has retired from international duty after Belgium’s disappointing group-stage elimination from the World Cup in Qatar.
The Real Madrid forward announced on Instagram on Wednesday morning that he will no longer represent Belgium, for whom he made his debut 14 years ago.
The 31-year-old won 126 caps, scoring 33 goals, and succeeded Vincent Kompany as captain in 2016.
Hazard, who won two Premier League titles with Chelsea between 2012 and 2019, represented a number of the Belgian youth age groups, making his under-15 debut in 2006.
Only three players have made more appearances in Belgium’s history, and only Romelu Lukaku has scored more goals.
In a statement, which was accompanied by a photo of his goal against England in the 2018 World Cup third-place play-off, Hazard 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.”
In domestic football Hazard broke through with Lille in 2007 before signing for Chelsea after their Champions League win in 2012 for a fee of £32 million. Responding to the news, Chelsea called him “one of the all-time Belgian greats”.
Hazard became synonymous with the Belgium’s “Golden Generation”. Belgium failed to qualify for a major tournament between 2004 and 2012 but, alongside players such as Thibaut Courtois, Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne, Hazard was part of a successful period for Belgian football: they reached the quarter-finals at the 2014 World Cup, Euro 2016 and Euro 2020, and finished third at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Between November 2015 and March 2016, and again from September 2018 to March 2022, Belgium were ranked the No 1 side in the world.
However, Belgium failed to make it out of group F at this year’s World Cup, leading many to ponder whether their most successful generation of players is coming to the end of its cycle. After opening their campaign with a tight 1-0 win over Canada, they fell to a shock 2-0 defeat by Morocco, before missing a host of chances in a goalless draw with Croatia, which eliminated them.
The manager, Roberto Martínez, stepped down after their abject showing in Qatar, and now Hazard has followed him out of the door.
