Eden Hazard “happy” with “perfect life” after rejecting MLS and retiring from football

The Belgian recently retired from professional football and was present at the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony, where he talked about his now “perfect life”.

Daniel L. Peinadodanipeinado93Joe Brennanj4brennanUpdate: Oct 31st, 2023 07:42 EDT

STEPHANIE LECOCQREUTERS

Recently retired Eden Hazard was present in yesterday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony, where the Belgian was given the honour of presenting Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham with the Kopa Trophy, the award given to the best u-21 player in the world.

Last June, Real Madrid and Hazard arrived at an agreement which saw the two cut their ties with each other and go their separate ways, despite the fact that the player had one year remaining on his deal with the 14-time European champions. Over the summer the former winger had plenty of offers to continue his career in the game, including potential deals with MLS, Saudi Arabia and Belgium, but the player rejected them all in favour of hanging up his boots.

Thank you for this unforgettable day my new Real Madrid fans! #HalaMadridMerci pour cette journée inoubliable mes nouveaux fans du Real! #HALAMADRID pic.twitter.com/zhUxGjBFtT

— Eden Hazard (@hazardeden10) June 13, 2019

‘I can do what I want and it’s a perfect life’

After the awards ceremony, Hazard stopped to talk to TNT Sport to open up on how he has spent the past few months as a now ex-footballer. “Now my life is perfect”, said Hazard, “I enjoy my life and my family, with the kids.”

“I can do what I want and it’s a perfect life. The decision was easy. You can’t explain everything in life. I’m at peace with myself. I have so many things to do outside football that I was able to make a simple decision”, commented the 32-year-old, who appeared, as well as his words, incredibly happy and content away from the media pressure and the trappings of professional football.

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Eden Hazard at Real Madrid (Sofascore)AS English

Hazard rejected the chance to join MLS

Hazard was also quizzed about the offers that he received over the summer to continue his career: “I still watch football on the TV when I can” he replied before admitting that he doesn’t miss football “right now”.

“I do other things”. Hazard put it simply when the question came as to why he didn’t take up any offers in MLS or beyond, “I always said that I’d leave football when I stopped enjoying myself on the pitch. I didn’t want to go anywhere for money. It was the best solution. I didn’t enjoy training anymore… and I didn’t play”.

Great finish @Benzema ⚽️Nice to see some old friends! 😉 pic.twitter.com/iiFNRtxOXv

— Eden Hazard (@hazardeden10) April 27, 2021

When was Hazard’s last game as a professional footballer?