Hazard: Ronaldo Is No Better Than Me, Messi Is The Greatest
Former Chelsea star Eden Hazard has sparked a controversy by claiming that he is on par with Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of ‘pure football.’
Hazard, who retired from football last year, also hailed former Barcelona legend Lionel Messi as the best player in history.
In an exclusive interview with, Hazard said that he admired Messi’s skills and longevity, but not Ronaldo’s physical attributes and achievements.
“Individually, Messi is perhaps the only one. I loved watching the Barcelona player, less so at the end, but he is the greatest in history,” Hazard said.
“It is 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. After that, he’s no better than me.”
Hazard’s comments have drawn mixed reactions from fans and pundits, with some praising his confidence and others accusing him of arrogance and disrespect.
Hazard, who played for Chelsea from 2012 to 2020, won two Premier League titles, two Europa League titles, and one FA Cup with the London club.
He also helped Belgium reach the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, where they lost to France.
However, his career was hampered by injuries and poor form, especially in his last season at Chelsea, where he scored only one goal in 22 appearances.
He announced his retirement from football in October 2020, at the age of 32.
Ronaldo, on the other hand, is still going strong at 38, having joined Al-Nassr from Juventus in 2022.
The Portuguese superstar has won five Ballon d’Or awards, five Champions League titles, and four European Golden Shoes.
He is also the all-time leading scorer for both club and country, with over 800 goals in his career.
Messi, who is 36, left Barcelona in 2021 after spending 21 years at the Catalan club.
He joined Paris Saint-Germain, where he has formed a formidable partnership with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
Messi has won six Ballon d’Or awards, four Champions League titles, and six European Golden Shoes.
He is also the record holder for the most goals and assists in La Liga history, with 474 and 205 respectively.
