Belgium star Eden Hazard has officially announced his retirement from international football following his country's poor showing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The 31-year-old has called time of his 14-year national team career. During this period, he was widely regarded as one of the most talented footballers to emerge from the country and made 126 appearances in the process.
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In 2018, recently departed head coach Roberto Martinez made him captain of the side and the attacker would go on to lead the Red Devils to third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Following a disastrous campaign in Qatar, though, in which Belgium limped out at the group stage, Hazard has now hung up his international boots.
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In a statement on Instagram, he 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…"
His national team spell had a disappointing end as Belgium failed to progress passed the World Cup group stage for the first time since 1998, after finishing third in Group F with only one win and one goal from three matches.
Various reports across Europe suggested there was a rift within the squad in Qatar, with The Athletic claiming that some players in the team wanted coach Martinez to leave his role before the tournament in Qatar due to his decision to stick with ageing and a largely underperforming stars, including skipper Hazard.
It is said the tactician was seen as "gutless" for his persistence with Hazard, with the player starting in the first two games of the showpiece against Canada and Morocco, while some team members wanted to see younger and in-form stars such as Jeremy Doku and Leandro Trossard start ahead of the former Chelsea No. 10.
After the nation's elimination, Martinez left the hot seat but insisted that the decision was not a direct consequence of their poor display in the Middle East.
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"That was my last game with the national team and it's emotional, as you can imagine," the former Everton chief said following Belgium's elimination last week, per the Daily Mirror.
"It was going to be the end whether we were world champions or out in the group stage. It has nothing to do with being eliminated at this stage.
"This is the time for me to accept that this day is the last game."
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