Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 37, bringing an end to an 18-year career with the national team. Witsel confirmed his decision on Wednesday, September 16, saying he had decided to step aside and allow younger players to take greater responsibility for the national team.
“It’s time to make way for the youngsters and the new generation,” Witsel said in a statement shared on social media.
The midfielder made his senior Belgium debut in 2008 at the age of 18 and went on to earn 140 international caps, placing him second on the country’s all-time appearance list behind former teammate Jan Vertonghen, who finished with 157. Witsel’s final appearance came in Belgium’s 2-1 defeat to eventual champions Spain in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in July. Reflecting on his international career, Witsel said he had not anticipated reaching such a milestone when he first represented Belgium.
“I never imagined achieving so much when I started out at just 18 years
Witsel became an important member of the Belgium side that emerged as one of the country’s strongest generations, playing alongside the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard. He represented Belgium at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, among other major international tournaments, and was part of the squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup before losing to eventual champions France. Belgium subsequently finished third after defeating England in the third-place play-off. Despite his long association with the national team, Witsel’s international career was not continuous. He initially announced his retirement from Belgium duty in 2023 before returning to the squad in 2024. He remained available through the 2026 World Cup.
Witsel will continue his club career after his international retirement. He joined OGC Nice during the 2026 close season after previously playing for clubs including Standard Liège, Benfica, Zenit St Petersburg, Borussia Dortmund, Atlético Madrid and Girona. His retirement closes an 18-year chapter with Belgium while leaving the national team to move forward with a new generation of players. Witsel finishes his international career as one of Belgium’s most-capped players, with 140 appearances and 12 goals for the Red Devils.