Chelsea legend Eden Hazard will make a brief return to football to play in the Kings World Cup in Mexico later this year.
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Hazard retired from football last yearEx-Chelsea star will make brief returnFerdinand & Ibrahimovic also involvedWHAT HAPPENED?
Ex-Chelsea star Hazard retired from football last year after a disappointing injury-plagued period with Real Madrid. The 33-year-old will put his boots on once more, though, as reports he has agreed to take part in the seven-a-side competition in North America this year.
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Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Neymar will also be involved in the competition in Mexico. Hazard will represent Deptostra FC, a team managed by Belgian streamer Celine Dept, while Ferdinand will field his own team, Five FC, and Mario Gotze will manage Youniors FC alongside German TikTok star Younes Zarou.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Kings World Cup was started by ex-Spain and Barcelona defender Gerard Pique. It aims to bring video game-style rules into football as teams will play 40-minute long matches with seven players on each team. The matches will have spells where goals count double and a die will be rolled to determine how many players should be removed from the field.
GettyWHAT NEXT?
A total of 32 teams will participate in the competition in Mexico this year. The Kings World Cup will take place from May 26 to June 9.