Eden Hazard returns to football as Chelsea legend takes on Euro giants eight months after announcing retirement

EDEN HAZARD returned to football just eight months after retiring as he took on Belgian giants Anderlecht with minnows Royale Union Tubize-Braine. The Chelsea legend left everything on the pitch in Wednesday’s friendly as Anderlecht romped to a 4-1 win.

Hazard donned the captain’s armband as his third-tier side, who won promotion this season, put in an admirable performance. And the winger himself put in a show-stopping turn as he scored Tubize’s only goal of the game in the 94 th minute. Hazard, 33, rolled back the years as he danced through Anderlecht’s defence before slotting home into the far corner.

The former Real Madrid man appeared chuffed with his efforts as teammates celebrated the strike with joy. And Hazard’s huge impact, which came on the same day the Belgian national team were booed by fans following a dire 0-0 Euros draw with Ukraine, also delighted supporters.

One said: “He found an old save, starting over.” Another declared: “Best Belgian today.” One noted: “Belgium could have used him.” Another added: “Things you love to see.”

It’s not the first time Hazard has appeared on a pitch following his professional retirement last year. Earlier this month, he rocked up to Soccer Aid and put in a dazzling performance for the World XI in their 6-3 defeat to England.

But Hazard’s latest appearance does not mean he is coming out of retirement, with reports in Belgium claiming it was merely a one-off cameo. The forward is regarded as one of the greatest players in Premier League history, winning two titles, two Europa Leagues and an FA Cup with Chelsea. He scored 110 games in 352 for the Blues following a 2012 switch from Lille.

And Hazard ended up securing a £130million move to Real Madrid in 2019 before being hit by a series of injuries. He only played 76 times for Los Blancos, scoring seven goals in the process before leaving them last summer and retiring completely in October.