Eden Hazard announces his retirement from professional football

Belgian star Eden Hazard has surprised everyone with his decision to retire from professional football at the age of 16 after a successful career in the sport. He made the announcement on his Instagram account, saying, "You must listen to yourself and say enough at the right time. After 16 years and more than 700 games played, I have decided to end my career as a professional football player."

Since leaving Real Madrid in June and terminating his contract, Hazard has been unable to find a new team. He began his professional career at Lille in France, where he played from 2007 to 2012 and won a league title and a French Cup before moving to England.

LONG CAREER

In Chelsea, Hazard became one of the most important attackers in Europe. He played 352 games for the team, scoring 110 goals and providing 85 assists, winning two Premier League titles and two Europa League titles.

In 2019, he moved to Real Madrid but struggled to replicate his best form. During his time there, he played only 76 matches and scored seven goals in four seasons. Despite his underwhelming performance, he managed to win two La Liga titles, one Champions League, one Club World Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, one Copa del Rey, and two Spanish Super Cups.

WITH THE BELGIAN NATIONAL TEAM

Hazard represented the Belgian national team in 118 games, scoring 33 goals. He participated in the FIFA World Cups of 2014, 2018, and 2022, as well as the UEFA European Championships of 2016 and 2020, and the UEFA Nations League of 2021.

In a brief message, Hazard thanked everyone who supported him throughout his career, as well as his family and friends. He also said goodbye to his fans who always followed and cheered for him. "Now is the time to enjoy my loved ones and have new experiences. See you soon off the pitch, my friends," concluded Eden Hazard.