Portugal coach Roberto Martinez expressed his disappointment that Eden Hazard couldn’t showcase his talent at Real Madrid.
Unfortunately, the 32-year-old Hazard announced his retirement from football earlier this month following a period marked by injuries during his time at Real Madrid.
Martinez, who coached Hazard in the Belgium national team, told Cadena Ser: “We shouldn’t remember Hazard with sadness.
“He has been a genius, a leader and for me, without a doubt, the best player of the 2018 World Cup. I’m saddened that the Real Madrid fans didn’t get to enjoy Eden’s quality.”
Eden Hazard is a former professional footballer who played as a winger for clubs such as Lille, Chelsea, and Real Madrid, and for the Belgium national team.
He is widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation, known for his dribbling, creativity, and scoring ability. He won several trophies and individual awards during his career, including two Premier League titles, a Champions League title, and the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award.
Hazard announced his retirement from football on October 10, 2023, at the age of 32. He said that he had decided to end his career after 16 years and more than 700 matches played.
He said that he had realised his dream and had fun on many pitches around the world. He thanked his managers, coaches, teammates, clubs, fans, family, friends, and advisors for their support and encouragement. He also said that he would enjoy his loved ones and have new experiences.
Hazard’s retirement came after a disappointing spell at Real Madrid, where he joined from Chelsea in 2019 for £89m. He played just 54 league games for the Spanish giants and scored only 7 goals in all competitions.
He was plagued by injuries and poor form and left the club at the end of last season. He was a free agent since his contract was terminated in June.
He had already retired from international football in December 2022, after being part of the Belgium squad that was eliminated in the group stage of the World Cup.