This archive report was first published on 21 July 2019.
Eden Hazard made his Real Madrid debut wearing the No.50 shirt, a unique choice that has sparked curiosity among fans. The reason behind this decision lies in the 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing.
On July 20, 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface, famously declaring, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." Hazard's choice of shirt number is a nod to this remarkable achievement.
With his official number still to be confirmed, Hazard was given the freedom to choose an available digit for his jersey. He opted for the No.50, a clear tribute to the Apollo 11 mission and its crew.
Real Madrid are expected to announce Hazard's official shirt number soon, with Mariano Diaz likely to hand over the No.7 to the Belgian forward. Diaz currently wears the No.7, a number previously donned by Cristiano Ronaldo.
When asked about his number choice, Hazard jokingly asked Luka Modric if he could take the No.10 shirt, but Modric politely declined. Hazard has since stated that the number is not important to him, but playing with the Real Madrid badge is.
