Kevin De Bruyne Ranks Eden Hazard Among Football’s Most Talented Players

Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne has hailed Eden Hazard as one of the most talented footballers ever, placing him just behind Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar in terms of raw ability.

Hazard, who retired from football in 2023, was widely regarded as one of the most skillful players of his generation. De Bruyne, his former teammate in the Belgium national team, believes Hazard’s peak form was unmatched.

“Eden Was Special” – De Bruyne

In an interview with Sky Sports, De Bruyne said:

“For me, it has to be Eden. Talent-wise, he’s probably top five in the world behind Messi, Ronaldo, and Neymar. Eden on his day was so, so good.

“His quality in one-v-one situations, his dribbling—he never seemed to care, he was just playing football.

“I played with him since we were both 16, and he’s a really nice guy too. Unfortunately, he had the injuries when he came to Madrid, and he retired.

“I spoke to him the other day before the Chelsea game—his son was coming to the game. He’s enjoying his life, and I’m happy he’s happy.”

Hazard’s Legacy: A Tale of Two Careers

Hazard enjoyed a sensational career at Chelsea, scoring 110 goals and winning six major trophies, including two Premier League titles and two Europa League titles.

However, his highly anticipated move to Real Madrid in 2019 turned into a nightmare due to constant injuries and fitness struggles. He managed only 76 appearances for the Spanish giants before being released.

Opinion: Is Hazard One of Football’s Greatest “What Ifs”?

There is no doubt that Hazard’s natural talent was world-class, but his career at the top was too short-lived to place him among the absolute greats. While players like Messi and Ronaldo maintained elite performances for over a decade, Hazard’s peak lasted only about six to seven years.

Had injuries not derailed his career at Madrid, could he have challenged for the Ballon d’Or? We’ll never know. But what’s certain is that when at his best, Hazard was pure magic—a joy to watch and a nightmare for defenders.