Thursday, September 17, 2026 - Veteran midfielder Axel Witsel has announced his retirement from international football with Belgium.
"This time, it's the right one. I have made the
decision to end my international career. The time has come to make way for the
young and the new generation.
"It has been an immense pride to have given my all
during these 18 years. I never imagined achieving so much when I started, at
just 18 years old," Witsel said on his profile on the social
network X."
"Thank you to the supporters. Thank you to all my
teammates, all my coaches, and all the people within the federation who
contributed, near or far, to my growth over all these years.
"Good luck to the team for the future. I'm certain its
future will be bright. I love you, Belgium," Witsel said.
The 37-year-old ends his international career with 140
caps, 12 goals, and eight assists.
His last appearance was in the quarter-finals of the 2026
World Cup, when Belgium were eliminated by Spain, and he played for
about 30 minutes.
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