Axel Witsel retires from Belgium national team after 140 caps and 18 years

Departure after eighteen seasons

Midfielder Axel Witsel has confirmed his retirement from the Belgian national team, concluding an international tenure that spanned 18 years and 140 appearances. The 37-year-old, who currently plays club football for French Ligue 1 side OGC Nice after transferring from Girona, published his decision on social media on Wednesday evening. Witsel finishes as the second most-capped player in the history of the Belgian men's national team. His final appearance for the Red Devils took place during a 30-minute substitute appearance in the World Cup quarter-final defeat against Spain in Los Angeles.

This time, it is for real. I have made the decision to end my international career. It is time to make way for the youth and the new generation. It was an immense pride to have given everything over these 18 years. I would never have imagined accomplishing so much when I started, at only 18 years old.

International milestones and tournament record

Witsel first featured for the senior national team in March 2008, when manager René Vandereycken brought him on as a substitute during a friendly match against Morocco alongside Vincent Kompany, Daniel Van Buyten, Timmy Simons, and Kevin Mirallas. Five minutes into his debut, the midfielder headed in a goal from a long throw-in while playing alongside his Standard Liège teammate Marouane Fellaini. Over the next 18 years, Witsel featured in seven international tournaments, including four World Cups in 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026, alongside three European Championships. Under manager Marc Wilmots at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, he served as a primary defensive midfielder as Belgium reached the quarter-finals before falling to Argentina. At Euro 2016, following an opening defeat to Italy, he scored his only tournament goal with a header against the Republic of Ireland. In the summer of 2017, he scored with a bicycle kick off a Dries Mertens cross against Gibraltar at Sclessin during World Cup qualifying.

Reversals and final tournament selection

The decision settles the timeline of Witsel's international career after an earlier retirement and comeback. The midfielder previously announced his departure from the national side in May 2023 following the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Former national manager Domenico Tedesco subsequently persuaded him to return to the squad. In March 2026, when asked whether the upcoming World Cup would be his international finale, Witsel noted his past hesitation and remarked that continuing until age 40 remained an appealing thought. Coach Rudi Garcia selected him for the 2026 tournament in North America, where Witsel took on a mentorship role for younger squad members and appeared as a substitute against the United States and Spain. Current Belgium manager Mark van Bommel will now construct future selections without the veteran.

Tributes across Belgian football

Witsel closes his international tally with 12 goals and eight assists across his 140 matches. Teammates past and present posted tributes following his announcement on Wednesday. Longtime squad members Romelu Lukaku and Jan Vertonghen each referred to Witsel as a legend. Defender Thomas Meunier described his run as a career that inspires pride, while younger players including Nicolas Raskin, Amadou Onana, and Dodi Lukebakio expressed gratitude for the honour of playing alongside him. Additional tributes came from Charles De Ketelaere and Diego Moreira, while the national team's official account published a message thanking him for his 18 seasons of service.