Former Real Madrid and Chelsea forward Eden Hazard has reflected on his illustrious career, acknowledging Lionel Messi as the only player he deems superior to himself in terms of pure footballing talent. Speaking to L’Equipe, the 33-year-old Belgian international, who became a free agent last summer, expressed his admiration for Messi’s unparalleled skills on the pitch. “Individually, Messi is perhaps the only one,” Hazard remarked.
“I loved watching the Barcelona player, less so at the end, but he’s the greatest in history. It’s impossible to take the ball away from him.” Despite his acknowledgment of Messi’s greatness, Hazard also shared his perspective on his own standing in the football world. “Cristiano is a bigger player than me but, in terms of pure football, I honestly don’t think so,” he stated.
“Neymar, maybe. After that, he’s no better than me.” Hazard emphasized the significance of players like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, while also highlighting the talent of his peers at Real Madrid. “At Real, you’ve got the best, also in terms of their careers: Benzema, Modric, they were the best, Kroos, Kev’ (De Bruyne), they all exude football,” he added.
Hazard’s comments shed light on the respect he holds for his fellow footballing icons, while also underlining his confidence in his own abilities. As he reminisces on his career, Hazard’s words serve as a testament to the competitive spirit and mutual admiration shared among football’s elite.