I think hazard is a season or two away from reaching the level of ribery, all he needs is consistency. He is near unplayable when he turns it on...who knows what the future bodes for him but I would never say he is very unlikely to ever be considered as the worlds best player.
Eden Hazard
- Thread starter Hectic
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There are basically 3 offensive players who can be regarded as legitimate heirs to Messi and Ronaldo at the moment.
Hazard, Neymar and Götze. They are young and have tremendous potential but all 3 already proved that they are very good players.
Maybe James Rodriguez too- who is younger than Hazard but older than Neymar and Götze- has a shot but I doubt it.
Guys like Agüero (26) and Bale (25) are already too old IMO. Too close to Messi in age.
The problem for Hazard is that he's not that much younger than Messi. Messi is just 27.
3.5 years older than Hazard, 4.5 years older than Neymar and 5 years older than Götze.
When Hazard enters his prime at 27, Messi will still only be 30/31. And even when Hazard turns 30 Messi will only be 33 and Hazard will probably need to play at Robben/Ribery/Iniesta level to beat Messi (if Messi doesn't decline very fast or gets injury issues).
Additionally be better than guys like Neymar(who's goalscoring play-style is more similar to Ronaldo/Messi and is more likely to get recognition by the public)
and Götze (who gets criticized a lot because he's not as dominant as he was in his Dortmund times but still puts up the same stats in goals and assists as Hazard in less game time for Bayern) and they are younger.
So it might not be very unlikely that he'll be the best player in the world at some point in his late 20's or early 30's but it's also not very likely.
Hazard, Neymar and Götze. They are young and have tremendous potential but all 3 already proved that they are very good players.
Maybe James Rodriguez too- who is younger than Hazard but older than Neymar and Götze- has a shot but I doubt it.
Guys like Agüero (26) and Bale (25) are already too old IMO. Too close to Messi in age.
The problem for Hazard is that he's not that much younger than Messi. Messi is just 27.
3.5 years older than Hazard, 4.5 years older than Neymar and 5 years older than Götze.
When Hazard enters his prime at 27, Messi will still only be 30/31. And even when Hazard turns 30 Messi will only be 33 and Hazard will probably need to play at Robben/Ribery/Iniesta level to beat Messi (if Messi doesn't decline very fast or gets injury issues).
Additionally be better than guys like Neymar(who's goalscoring play-style is more similar to Ronaldo/Messi and is more likely to get recognition by the public)
and Götze (who gets criticized a lot because he's not as dominant as he was in his Dortmund times but still puts up the same stats in goals and assists as Hazard in less game time for Bayern) and they are younger.
So it might not be very unlikely that he'll be the best player in the world at some point in his late 20's or early 30's but it's also not very likely.
Agree with that, don't think any of Hazard, Neymar or Gotze will be considered the world's best with Messi around, and tbh the way Ronaldo's going I can't see him hitting a sharp decline either and he turns 30 in a few months time. Ronaldo's already starting to adapt his game to be more of a centre-forward, and Messi's dropping deeper into a more creative role. Barcelona and Real won't stop their spending anytime soon either, despite their transfer bans (a possible one for Real & Atletico appears to be impending).
I think it'll be injury that finishes it for Ronaldo and probably not that far in the future. Him having to ice his knee after so many games isnt exactly a good sign.
He's been superb today. Love watching him play
Agreed, one of my favourite players in the world to watch.
He's one player I really wish we had of bought. He's exactly the type of player that we need. Hopefully Madrid come knocking for him in a-few seasons.
Yeah he's so fun to watch. Chelsea have excellent players but are dull without him.
The most exciting player in the league easily.
Didn't want to pay the 6mil agent fees for Hazard. No value.
Fantastic player. Right up there with the likes of Aguero and Suarez imo.
What he did to Walker just before Salah fecked the shot ... He completely humiliated him 
That was ridiculous. He has the Ronaldinho's-esque ability to utterly humiliate defendersWhat he did to Walker just before Salah fecked the shot ... He completely humiliated him
I'd swap him for anyone (bar de Gea), the lad is class and has developed into one of the best players in the league. How he can create something out of nothing is scary.
One of those players who whenever they have the ball you know there going to make a chance. What a player
I will curse that one on Fergie for a very very long time for sure. That decision of not paying the agent fee was just silly and fecking everyone sideways.
Criminal that we signed Kagawa instead of this guy. I know the agent fee played a part but look at the difference between the two of them now!
Wish he wasn't at Chelsea. He's great to watch, most exciting player in the league.
Absolutely breathtaking at times today.
He's impossible to stop.
He's the only thing that makes Chelsea worth watching.
He could have made it 6-5 Chelsea, if he wanted.
I'm sure he did!
Best player in the league?
An annoying player to defend against
How's he been in the league this season? He seems to be either brilliant or frustrating when I watch Chelsea.
He's a lot more consistent and creates many chances in each game. He's starting to score more regularly.
Doesn't he still have games where he simply runs down too many blind alleys or has too many turnovers? Or maybe I've watched too little of him this season.
In terms of natural ability he has a higher ceiling than anyone else in this league IMO. Goes past people at pure will, lots of pace, technically gifted and a good pass and shot. He can be the premier league's Messi-lite if he reaches his proper potential. I'd say Aguero too but I think he's lost that dribbling ability he used to have when he was a kid.
That would be Aguero.
Less than previous seasons definitely. What makes him so dangerous is how he makes most of the time the right decision between a pass and dribbling.
Pure class.
People keep saying this, but he's injured more often than not.
The top 3 attacking midfielders this season imo.
For me.. yes. Simply stunning at the moment.. I don't know how his goal stats are so low but in terms of his ability to constantly be a threat and on the ball during a game, he is amazing... like he just looks like he can do anything he wants on a football pitch regardless of how tightly he is marked.
At the moment he has to be watched in order to appreciate just how good he is at the moment but hopefully his stats will soon reflect his brilliance. So so good.
Sooner or later he will get injured. Gets absolutely no protection from the referees.
When he is on his game he is unstoppable. Still can't believe Fergie and Gill pulled out for a few millions.
His dribbling is absolutely amazing. Just knows to how to position his body in between the ball and the defender, and this too at pace.
Well, there is a campaign against you.
And then Salah completely squandered the chance, I would say Hazard was less than impressed. He's annoyingly good.What he did to Walker just before Salah fecked the shot ... He completely humiliated him
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