That is the best result for the Red Devils at a World Cup, and they will be trying to match or even better it at this summer’s tournament in North America, starting on Monday with a game against Egypt.

Ahead of that fixture in Seattle, we look back on Hazard’s displays at Russia 2018 which earned him the Silver Ball award for the tournament’s second-best player. Many feel he should have won gold.

Hazard was fresh off scoring the winner in the FA Cup final at Wembley when he joined up with his Belgian team-mates. Hazard had been appointed captain by Roberto Martinez and hopes were high in Belgium this would be the year the so-called ‘Golden Generation’ hit top gear.

They got off to a good start by dispatching Panama 3-0 in their opening group game. Hazard had a hand in two of the goals, converted by his former Chelsea team-mate Romelu Lukaku, including an assist with a perfectly-weighted through pass the big striker made the most of.

Belgium’s attacking potency was further showcased in their next game, a 5-2 victory over a Tunisia side England had only beaten in the last minute.

Hazard became the first Chelsea player to score at that World Cup, netting in each half. Having been on the end of some rough treatment from the Panama defenders, Hazard was fouled just 18 seconds into the game, and when the Blues forward was brought down again after four minutes, inside the box, a penalty was awarded. Hazard stepped forward and drilled his spot-kick into the bottom corner.

His second of the game, six minutes after the restart, made it 4-1 to Belgium. He controlled a pass from De Bruyne with his chest before cleverly rounding the Tunisian keeper and finishing well under pressure. Hazard’s all-round display earned him the Man of the Match award. It would not be his last.

Two wins from two meant Martinez could rotate his squad for the final group game, against England. Hazard remained an unused sub as Belgium won 1-0 to book a last-16 showdown with Japan in Rostov.

Two goals early in the second half put the Asian side ahead and left Belgium’s World Cup hopes hanging by a thread. Inspired by Hazard, they conjured up the spirit and quality required to overturn that deficit in dramatic fashion.

It was Hazard’s fine cross that set up Marouane Fellaini to equalise with a quarter-of-an-hour to play after Jan Vertonghen had got one back. Nacer Chadli completed the turnaround in the fifth minute of added time.

It was a bona fide World Cup classic and Hazard was the star of the show, named Man of the Match again. He attempted three shots, one of which hit the post, made a game-high five key passes, and completed five dribbles, more than anyone else.

Belgium’s route to glory didn’t get any easier. Brazil awaited in the quarter-finals. Martinez altered his attack, deploying De Bruyne in a false nine position and Lukaku on the right. Hazard was on the left but encouraged to cut infield and occupy spaces created by De Bruyne.

The tactic worked perfectly, with Belgium slicing Brazil open in the first half in Kazan. A Fernandinho own goal and a pinpoint De Bruyne strike had the underdogs 2-0 up at half-time. Hazard’s ability to hold on to the ball and get his side up the pitch was vital throughout, particularly after the Selecao halved the deficit and legs were tiring as Brazil bombarded the Belgian goal.

‘Hazard is a supremely skilful and effective footballer,’ enthused The Guardian of our man’s display, while another Blue, Thibaut Courtois, was named Man of the Match for repelling the Brazil attack.

The semi-final pitted Belgium against their neighbours France. Hazard did everything he could to pierce Les Bleus’ defence but they stood firm and won a tight contest 1-0.

‘There was no shame in that defeat,’ Hazard reflected after his retirement, having amassed 126 international caps.

‘Two or three days after the match, you fixate on the fact that you missed out on a World Cup final. But afterwards, you remind yourself that you couldn’t have done any more. It still feels like we gave everything and when you lose in that way, you can’t really be too hard on yourself.’

Hazard and his team-mates still had a chance to return home with a medal, which they duly did, defeating England 2-0 in the third-place play-off in St Petersburg.

It was our attacker that scored the second, getting the better of Phil Jones – just as he had in the Cup final – before finishing calmly at the near post for his third goal of the tournament.

He also picked up his third Man of the Match award and his tournament statistics showed just what an impact he had in Russia.

Hazard won the most duels (77), had the most touches in the opposition box (46), won the most fouls (27), had the most shots (17) and registered the most assists (three). His 40 successful dribbles were 12 more than anyone else managed.

He duly received the Silver Ball award – pipped to the top prize by Croatia’s Luka Modric – and returned home to Brussels with his team-mates as a national hero.

‘We had a great run. The squad and the country are extremely proud of what we did,’ reflected Hazard.

‘I’m not going to say that I was a cut above everyone else at the World Cup in 2018, because there have always been players who were better than me, but I felt really strong at that tournament.

‘I was at the top of my game not just in terms of my football, but also physically and mentally.’

And how special it was to watch one of our own perform at such a high level on the biggest stage of them all.