Roberto Martínez salutes Hazard ahead of 100th Belgium cap
Eden Hazard is set to win his 100th Belgium cap on Sunday, and national team coach Roberto Martinez saluted his dedication ahead of that achievement.
Belgium coach Roberto Martínez paid tribute to Eden Hazard ahead of the Chelsea forward earning his 100th international cap. Hazard, 28, made his international debut over 10 years ago in November 2008 after breaking onto the scene as a highly-rated youngster at Lille. He has since become an integral part of the Belgium team, helping them qualify for Euro 2016 after a 16-year absence and inspirational as they reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, their best performance in the tournament's history.
Hazard on the brink of reaching three figures
Should he feature against Cyprus in Euro 2020 qualifying later today, Hazard will reach a centenary of Belgium caps and Martínez commended him for his dedication. "A hundred games is an impressive number for someone as young as 28," the Spanish coach told reporters. "It shows how much of an extraordinary man and footballer Eden is. This is an example for everyone with this dedication and commitment."
Belgium's 100 club
Axel Witsel (101 caps) and Jan Vertonghen (111) are the only players to have represented Belgium more often than Hazard, though the attacker thinks former Chelsea team-mate Thibaut Courtois will surpass them all.
"I don't set a goal," Hazard added. "I have always said that I wanted to play as long as my body doesn't say stop. It will also be related to the new generation. If I see that there is a player in my place, I'll let him play, I hope it happens, that's what makes football: the oldest stop, the youngest ones push on. When I arrived, I probably pushed people [out]. Today, I'm still young, and I think that Courtois will beat the record, especially if he's playing until the age of 38. I don't know, maybe he'll do it, be a [Gianluigi] Buffon, play until he's 40. I will try to continue as long as Thibaut continues."