Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo continue to spark interest and debate among soccer fans, even in the twilight of their careers, over who is the Greatest of All Time (GOAT). Now, former Real Madrid and Premier League star Eden Hazard has weighed in on the age-old question.
Hazard established himself as one of the Premier League’s best during his time at Chelsea, dazzling with his trademark dribbling and creativity. With two Premier League titles and two Europa League crowns with the Blues, the Belgian winger became one of the most sought-after players in the world.
At the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, he earned the Silver Ball as the tournament’s second-best player, behind Luka Modric. That performance helped secure a record €120.8 million move to Real Madrid in 2019, but injuries plagued his time in Spain. In 2023, Hazard retired at just 32 years old.
Eden Hazard picks his GOAT
Two years into retirement, Hazard sat down with French YouTuber ZACK to reflect on his career. While reminiscing about the 2014 World Cup—Belgium’s first appearance at the tournament for the golden generation featuring Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne—he described the experience in Brazil.
“We didn’t make it to the 2010 World Cup or Euro 2012. We were all very young. So for us, it’s a tournament… I wouldn’t say it was just for fun, but it was the one that introduced us to the world stage,” Hazard recalled. “And Brazil is the home of football. You play at the Maracana, you play in the land of football. We just went there thinking, ‘We’ll do what we can.’“
Belgium’s run ended in the quarterfinals with a loss to Messi’s Argentina, but Hazard had no regrets. “For us, the quarterfinals were already great. When people say quarterfinal, they mean you lose against Messi’s team. So there’s no shame in that. You’re playing against Messi, the best player in history. There’s no shame in that.”
Hazard arrived at Real Madrid just months after Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure, inheriting the iconic No. 7 shirt. But despite the obvious comparisons, the Belgian didn’t hesitate to name Lionel Messi as the greatest player ever, a choice sure to stir debate among fans.
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