World Cup 2022: How Players Are Spending Their Holidays After Elimination

• Robert Lewandowski headlines the list of top players on vacation after World Cup elimination
• With only eight teams remaining in the tournament, a lot of top stars have already gone home
• Sports Brief looks at some stars who are maximising the break before club football resumes

With the 2022 World Cup already at its business end, a lot of football stars have found themselves packing their bags and leaving Doha after their national sides were eliminated.

The Qatar tournament has come with its fair share of surprises, top of which are Morocco defying the odds to reach the quarter-finals, and Japan topping a group that had Germany and Spain.

Some of the top stars who have already been eliminated have opted to go for vacations to heal and reset, as they prepare for club football to resume later this month.

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Robert Lewandowski's Poland reached the round of 16 but were dumped out by defending champions France. The Barcelona striker has been spotted in Maldives with his wife, Anna and two children, Laura and Klara.

Also in the Maldives is Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Courtois was part of the team that suffered a shock group-stage elimination amid deep concerns about squad disharmony.

Captain Eden Hazard has already retired from international duty, while Roberto Martinez has resigned as manager of the Red Devils.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Courtois was spotted with his fiancee, Mishel Gerzig. Gerzig was earlier in Dubai, but it is not known if her shot-stopping partner had accompanied her there as well.

The Maldives looks like the popular option for football stars, with Lewandowski's international teammate Krzysztof Piątek also there with his wife, Paulyna.

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USA midfielder Weston McKennie and winger Cristian Pulisic have returned home to Florida, where they attended a Miami Heat game. The Americans were eliminated by the Netherlands in the round of 16, after a resilient display in the group stages.

Mexico winger Hiriving 'Chuck' Lozano was spotted at a ranch back in his homeland. El Tri failed to get past the group stages, something that cost Head Coach Gerardo Martino his job.

Courtois' sentiments after Mundial elimination

Sports Brief had earlier reported that Courtois did not hold backid not hold back in his criticism of Belgium’s performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, after the Red Devils were knocked out in the group phase.

Belgium began the tournament with a slim 1-0 victory over Canada, before being eliminated after shockingly losing 2-0 to Morocco and drawing 0-0 with Croatia.

Courtois has now slammed his international side, saying they do not deserve to be tagged as the 'golden generation' after failing to win a single trophy.