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Ballon d’Or 2023: 'It's perfect' - Eden Hazard does not miss playing football but 'let's see in a few months'

The Editorial Team

Published 30/10/2023 at 19:23 GMT

Former Lille, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Belgium playmaker Eden Hazard is in attendance at the 2023 Ballon d'Or awards, for the first time as a retired player. The 32-year-old left Real in the summer and failed to find a suitable new club so decided to step away from the sport. Ahead of the event he explained that he was enjoying life without football and time with his family.

Eden Hazard with his father and children at the 2023 Ballon d'Or

Image credit: Getty Images

Eden Hazard said he did not “miss playing football” after his recent retirement and said that his current life is “perfect.”
The Belgian playmaker had his contract with Real Madrid brought to an end a year early in the summer, as the Spanish team looked to rebuild their squad, and Hazard was able to use the chance to look for a new team.
There were reports of offers from European teams and those in Saudi Arabia, but ultimately he decided to retire at the age of 32 after struggling for fitness ever since he joined Real back in 2019 from Chelsea.
Chelsea was where Hazard enjoyed his best football and there had occasionally been suggestions he might be brought back to Stamford Bridge to rediscover his best form, but speaking at the Ballon d’Or awards in Paris, France, he cut a relaxed figure with no indication he regretted to step away from the sport far earlier than many of his peers.
“It's perfect. I enjoy life, I enjoy family, I enjoy the kids. I get what I want and it’s a perfect life,” he said.
Asked if he still stayed in touch with football, he answered: “Of course, I have kids, they play football also. I watch on TV when I can and do other things also.”
Hazard nevertheless said it might be possible that he would start to miss being involved on the pitch.
He added: “At the moment I don’t miss playing football, that’s good. Let’s see in a few months.
“The truth is my kids asked me to come so I was like, ‘OK, let’s go and spend a night in Paris together, and have fun.’”
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