Former Chelsea and Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard has made a bold statement, dismissing football icons such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Barcelona’s young talent Lamine Yamal, as he revealed the one player he considers a superior dribbler—Lionel Messi. The Belgian legend expressed his thoughts in a recent video published on the official UEFA Champions League account on X (formerly Twitter). During the interactive session, Hazard was challenged to remain silent until he heard the name of a footballer he believed had better dribbling skills than himself. The names mentioned began with Paris Saint-Germain’s Desire Doue, AC Milan winger Rafael Leão, PSG’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Barcelona attacker Raphinha. Despite hearing these names, Hazard did not react and kept his composure. A slight change in his expression occurred when the host listed former Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez and Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior, yet he still chose to remain silent. Even when Cristiano Ronaldo and Lamine Yamal were mentioned, Hazard showed no sign of acknowledgment. However, when Neymar’s name came up, the 34-year-old appeared thoughtful but refrained from speaking. It was not until Lionel Messi was mentioned that Hazard finally broke his silence, making it clear that he regards the Argentine World Cup winner as the only dribbler who surpasses him. Hazard officially retired from professional football in October 2023 at the age of 32, bringing an end to a glittering career that saw him shine in the Premier League with Chelsea and later in La Liga with Real Madrid.
