Real Madrid left winger Eden Hazard is one of the best players in the world, even if his first season at the Santiago Bernabeu didn’t go to plan.
In his first season with Real Madrid, Eden Hazard suffered not one but two significant injuries. He suffered an ankle injury against PSG in late November just when he was starting to take world football by storm again, and then he suffered a second injury in late February shortly after returning from the first knock.
Hazard scored only one goal and one assist in the 2019-2020 La Liga season – with both goal contributions coming in a 4-2 win over Granada – but he clearly offered so much more to Real’s attack. Karim Benzema and Rodrygo Goes’ best form came with Hazard in the lineup, and with nearly four dribbles completed and four fouls drawn per game, according to WhoScored.com, it’s easy to see why.
The former Chelsea superstar has consistently received kind words from national team manager and former Everton coach Roberto Martinez. Recently, Martinez told Cadena SER, via Goal.com’s Sacha Pisani, that he has no doubt Hazard is capable of winning the Ballon d’Or at Real Madrid.
And Martinez is absolutely correct in his assertion. Hazard’s always had that type of quality about him. Just look at some of the solo goals he’s scored at Chelsea and his consistency in the rough-and-tough Premier League. Yes, he was injured twice at Real in 2019-2020, but the root cause was a fluky injury against PSG in which he was caught while his foot planted awkwardly.
Hazard is a strong player who is built to withstand punishment. He draws lots of fouls that help his team immensely, but even when he was being fouled all the time at Chelsea, it was rare to see him on the injury list. It’s a point Martinez wisely brings up.
Real Madrid fans have a reputation for being impatient, but that’s unfair here. Madridistas value Hazard as a player and were blown away by his quality in the Fall. They understand Hazard has the tools to lead Real to trophies as a star player, though he does need more support from others.
Before his injury, Hazard was putting in the same types of untouchable runs and counterattack-starting moves like Barcelona’s Lionel Messi. Ballon d’Or competition is stiff with Messi still shining, Kylian Mbappe only getting better, Erling Haaland emerging, and Neymar playing his best football ever. But Hazard can absolutely be in the mix, especially with the right support around him.