Vitsel retires from international football

Midfielder Axel Witsel announced the day before yesterday that he is retiring from international football with the Belgian national team at the age of 37, bringing an end to a career that made him the second-most capped player in the history of the "Red Devils."

Witsel wrote on the social media platform X, "This time, the decision is final. I have decided to end my international career. It is time to make way for the young players and the new generation."

Witsel joined French club Nice this season and was included in Belgium's squad for the recent FIFA World Cup finals.

The player, who previously played for Standard Liège, Portugal's Benfica, Germany's Borussia Dortmund, and Spain's Atlético Madrid, made 140 international appearances, scoring 12 goals.

Witsel ranks second on the list of Belgian players with the most international caps, behind Jan Vertonghen, who holds the record with 157 appearances, and ahead of striker Romelu Lukaku, who has made 132 appearances.

Witsel was a key member of the Belgian national team that reached the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, before losing 1-0 to France.