Former Chelsea star names the reason Hazard cannot rival Messi

The Belgian was once tipped as a potential rival for Messi in La Liga, but he has struggled to deliver at Real Madrid so far.

Eden Hazard is ‘up there with Lionel Messi’, says former Chelsea teammate Filipe Luis, but his lack of ambition prevents him from fulfilling his true potential.

The Brazilian full-back, who played alongside Hazard at Chelsea during the 2014/15 campaign, believes the 30-year-old is too laid back. He even played Mario Kart games five minutes before games during Filipe’s time in London.

Injuries have taken a toll on Hazard since he became a Real Madrid player in 2019, effectively spoiling his Los Blancos career. It’s been disappointing, to say the least, especially as the likes of Kaka tipped him to rival Messi.

But Felipe instead feels a lack of desire is what truly holds him back.

“Eden, along with Neymar, are the best players I have ever played alongside – up there with Messi”, the 35-year-old, who now plays for Brazilian club Flamengo, told the Daily Mail.

“He didn’t train well, five minutes before the game he would be playing Mario Kart in the dressing room. He would warm-up without tying his bootlaces up. Then no-one could take the ball off of him. He would dribble past three or four players and win games on his own.

“Hazard has so much talent. Perhaps he lacks a little bit of ambition to say: I am going to be the best player in the world. Because he could be.”