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Journalist stuns Eden Hazard by asking if he's gained weight, then asks for a selfie

Journalist stuns Eden Hazard by asking if he's gained weight, then asks for a selfie

The Belgium forward was not in good form as his side narrowly beat Canada in their first game of the World Cup.

Eden Hazard was asked about putting on weight by one journalist at the World Cup, before being asked for a selfie from the same reporter.

It's not exactly been a great couple of years for Hazard, since leaving Chelsea as one of the world's best players for Real Madrid in 2019.

There has been questions over his fitness, form and even weight but, ahead of the World Cup, he claimed he still had the ability to do 'great things.'

That wasn't exactly on show on Wednesday night, as Belgium kicked off their tournament with a game against Canada, a side who hadn't been there since 1986.

The Real star's main contribution to the game was to nearly hand John Herdman's side their second penalty of the game, after they'd missed the first.

Despite his lack of impact on the game, and the narrow 1-0 victory for Roberto Martinez's team, Hazard was quick to mock Germany's loss to Japan, claiming they should have focused more on football.

Now the 31-year-old's own focus has been questioned, as he and his fellow countrymen prepared for their second game, against Morocco, on Sunday.

At the pre match press conference, the national team captain was asked by an Egyptian journalist about his weight. Initially not understanding the question, Hazard asked the reporter to repeat it.

"I have noticed that you have gained weight," the question came.

"I don't have much to say about that. Except it's not true. I'll do anything to be ready," an understandably peterburbed former Lille star replied.

According to Belgian outlet Nieuwsblad, the reporter later asked for a selfie with the forward, and unsurprisingly the request was denied.

Hazard understandably didn't want a selfie. Image: Alamy
Hazard understandably didn't want a selfie. Image: Alamy

The Real player's ability to star in Qatar was rightly under question before the tournament kicked off, due to his lack of football in the season.

Whilst some players may have been overplayed already, or going into the tournament injured, Hazard's problem will be match fitness, as much as anything else.

He's only started one La Liga game on one Champions League match, with four other appearances off the bench for Carlo Ancelotti's team.

Asked about his fitness ahead of Sunday's game with Morocco he said, "I played 60 minutes against Canada and I feel good.

"The next match is of course already 4 days later, but the medical staff assists me to recover well. I'm eager to play."

Hazard didn't have much impact on the game vs Canada. Image: Alamy
Hazard didn't have much impact on the game vs Canada. Image: Alamy

Once again he managed just an hour in the game against Morocco and, once again, he had little to no impact on the match for his side.

Although he might argue that at least the team were drawing 0-0 when he went off, before their opponents actually took the lead.

Abdelhamid Sabiri, on as a substitute in the 68th minute, took just five minutes to make his impact on the match, beating everyone to score direct from his free kick from a tight angle.

Thibaut Courtois was somewhat blindsided by Romain Saiss' run into his field in vision and flapped at the effort, but he had been given a warning in the first half by Hakim Ziyech's very similar free kick, with Saiss offside on that occasion.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Football, Football World Cup, Eden Hazard, Belgium, Real Madrid