Once known to be the next best thing in soccer, Eden Hazard officially retired yesterday. The soccer world received the eye-opening news after the veteran took to social media to announce the same. As fans bid farewell to a career marked by electrifying moments and exceptional skill, his mentality has been questioned, drawing intriguing parallels with none other than Cristiano Ronaldo.

While the former Chelsea man may have won a lot of silverware throughout his career, questions have emerged regarding his failure to win the Ballon d’Or.

Hazard’s mentality is questioned after comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo

A player who once held the promise of being the next Cristiano Ronaldo, Hazard’s journey through the beautiful game has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. Yet, many couldn’t help but wonder about the twists and turns that fate had dealt Hazard. Among them is Chelsea legend Joe Cole, who insists the player could have won the prestigious Ballon d’Or if he had followed the mentality of CR7.

While jumping on the bandwagon to say a few words about the Belgian superstar, as per Atheltic, Cole said, “He should have been the best player in the world. That little spell where Luka Modric won the Ballon d’Or – that should have been Eden Hazard. He couldn’t have lived a life like Cristiano Ronaldo. You know, ice baths at 1 a.m. and all that… that’s not him. If he had, he probably would have won every personal award out there. But Eden did things his way.”

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Cole believes that if Eden Hazard had given his all, the 2018 Ballon d’Or could have been his, rather than Luka Modric’s. At that time, Hazard was with Chelsea. A year later, he made the move to Madrid, where the majority of his tenure was marred by injuries. Cole acknowledges that if Hazard had adopted Ronaldo’s mentality, things could have been considerably better for the winger on an individual level.

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Certainly, Eden Hazard might agree with Cole’s words. However, the player has already hung up his boots. Let’s delve deeper to learn more about his illustrious career.

The Remarkable Journey of Eden Hazard

Eden Hazard began his career in the youth setup of Belgium’s R Union Tubize-Braine. He quickly caught the attention of Ligue One side LOSC Lille. From there, he ascended through the ranks of the French club and quickly established himself as one of the most talented players. In 2012, the fleet-footed winger made the leap to the big leagues, signing with the Premier League side Chelsea.

The Belgian winger secured two Premier League titles and a Champions League with the Blues. Then he moved to Real Madrid in 2019, a decision that significantly altered the course of his professional journey. In total, he notched 167 goals and provided 157 assists in 623 games (via transfermarkt). Undoubtedly, fans will miss Hazard.

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