Kevin De Bruyne believes Eden Hazard was at the same level as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar during his peak.
Chelsea signed Eden Hazard in 2012, spending £32 million to bring him from Lille to Stamford Bridge after impressing in French football. During his rise, Hazard won numerous individual awards, becoming the first non-French player to win Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year. His influence was further cemented when Hazard was named Ligue 1 Player of the Year, becoming the youngest winner of the prestigious award in history.
When Hazard arrived at Stamford Bridge, he lived up to expectations. Over the next decade, he became one of the Premier League’s most impressive talents, wowing fans with his dribbling, creativity and eye for goal. He inspired Chelsea to six major trophies, including two Premier League titles and two Europa Leagues.
After years of playing at the highest level, De Bruyne knows what separates legends from the rest, and according to him, Hazard is one of the most talented players of his generation, behind only Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.
“For me, it has to be Eden Hazard,” De Bruyne said when asked who is the greatest Belgian player in Premier League history.
“I think, in terms of talent, he could be in the top five players in the world, after Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar. Eden Hazard on his best days is absolutely brilliant. The quality in one-on-ones, the dribbling, he’s always very relaxed, just playing football. I’ve played with him since we were 16 and he’s a very good person too.”
Hazard’s career has hit a rough patch following his long-awaited move to Real Madrid in 2019. Haunted by persistent injuries, he has failed to reproduce the form that made him a superstar in England.
Over the course of four seasons, Hazard made just 76 appearances before being released by the Spanish giants in 2023. Despite his efforts to revive his career, the Belgian striker eventually decided to retire, ending a football journey that once left fans in awe.
