Eden Hazard, the former Belgian football star, recently shared his opinion on the age-old Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo debate. In an interview with French paper L’Equipe, Hazard expressed his belief that Messi is the greatest footballer of all time.
Hazard, who retired from football last year, had an illustrious career that included seven sensational seasons at Chelsea. However, he struggled during his four-year stint at Real Madrid due to frequent injuries. Despite having offers to continue playing, Hazard decided to hang up his boots.
Reflecting on players who might have been better than him, Hazard did not mention Cristiano Ronaldo. He stated, “Individually, Messi is perhaps the only one. I loved watching the Barcelona player, he’s the greatest in history. It’s impossible to take the ball away from him. Cristiano is a bigger player than me, but in terms of pure football, I honestly don’t think so. Neymar, maybe.”
While Messi and Ronaldo surpassed Hazard in terms of games played, goals scored, and assists made, Hazard acknowledges their achievements. Messi has scored a remarkable 821 goals in 1,033 games for club and country, with Ronaldo netting 867 times in 1,198 games. Additionally, both players have won multiple Ballon d’Or awards and have achieved great success in club and international competitions.
Throughout his career, Hazard scored 200 goals and provided 193 assists in 748 games. He played a vital role in Lille’s Ligue 1 and Coupe de France double and achieved further success at Chelsea, winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, two League Cups, and two Europa Leagues. Although his time at Real Madrid was challenging, Hazard did manage to win two LaLiga titles and the Champions League with the club.
As the football world eagerly awaits the final chapters of Messi and Ronaldo’s careers, there is no denying the immense impact these two legends have had on the sport. Hazard’s admiration for Messi, coupled with his own impressive career, adds an interesting perspective to the ongoing debate.
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