Eden Hazard retires from international football after Belgium's World Cup debacle

Coach Roberto Martinez had earlier stepped down from his post after group stage exit

Belgium's Eden Hazard announced his retirement from international football on Wednesday. Getty

Belgium star Eden Hazard announced his retirement from international football on Wednesday, days after the team crashed out of the World Cup in the group stage.

The Real Madrid forward, 31, made the announcement on social media, saying "a page turns today".

"Thank you for your unparalleled support," he posted on Instagram. "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."

The Belgium team tweeted: "All the best, captain."

Hazard, who played as an attacking midfielder or winger, made his Belgium debut in 2008 as a teenager and collected a total of 126 caps, scoring 33 goals. He was the standard-bearer of Belgium's much-vaunted "golden generation", which reached the semi-finals at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The team are still ranked second in the world by Fifa but many of their players are in their 30s and they finished third in Group F behind Morocco and Croatia.

Hazard, who was the team's skipper, made a surprise admission during the tournament in Qatar, saying the team's best chance to win the World Cup had come and gone.

The forward moved from French club Lille to Chelsea in 2012 and became one of the standout stars in the Premier League, winning the trophy twice. He sealed a big-money move to Real Madrid in 2019 but, hampered by injury, has struggled to repeat the form he showed in England.

Belgium were stalked by rumours of in-fighting in Qatar and a number of the country's other stars including Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois have likely played their final World Cup matches. In the aftermath of their exit, Belgium coach Roberto Martinez announced he was leaving his job.

Luka Modric of Croatia vies for the ball with Jan Vertonghen of Belgium during their World Cup match at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Thursday, December 1, 2022. EPA

Roberto Martinez applauds Belgium's fans after their sides' elimination from the tournament during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group F match between Croatia and Belgium at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. Getty Images

Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne, right, and Croatia's Josip Juranovic, left, fight for the ball. AP

Josip Juranovic, left, of Croatia battles for possession with Yannick Carrasco of Belgium. EPA

From left, Croatian players Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, and Andrej Kramaric argue with referee Anthony Taylor. EPA

Croatia's defender Borna Sosa fights for the ball against Belgium at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. AFP

Mateo Kovacic of Croatia is challenged by Axel Witsel and Leander Dendoncker of Belgium. Getty

Croatia's Andrej Kramaric, left, duels for the ball with Belgium's Axel Witsel. AP

Belgium's Jan Vertonghen reacts. Reuters