One of football’s greatest legends Andriy Shevchenko has said that Chelsea footballer Eden Hazard is capable of winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or honor. The 42-year-old former Inter Milan striker won the award back in 2004 and now blatantly stated that current Chelsea star Hazard has all the qualities to win the grand award. As one of the greatest strikers of the modern era, Shevchenko has some advice for the football fans and the Blues faithful may or may not be too glad to hear it.
After Eden Hazard’s incredible start to the new season, the Belgian is showing the world as to why Real Madrid was so keen on his signature in the summer. The 27-year-old winger has already notched up eight goals and laid on three assists in a flying start this campaign and former Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko has spoken out on the brilliance of the Chelsea talisman. In a recent chat with news outlet Goal, the Ukrainian was puzzled as to why only the goalscorers always win the Ballon d’Or, “Why do attackers always get individual awards? Because they are responsible for finishing attacks. People like to see goals scored. Hazard is a phenomenal, fantastic player, but he wasn’t getting those 20-25 goals per season.”
Although Hazard has been in goalscoring form of late, he is still devastating in terms of dribbling skills and beating players to create chances for club and country. His presence on the pitch is enough to give teams a lift off and when he produces moments of magic it’s just even more helpful. But Shevchenko has already backed Hazard to win the Ballon d’Or because he is firing on all cylinders. Shevchenko, who won the Football league Cup with Chelsea added, “This season he already has eight, so he’s on the road to that number. He has every chance of winning the Ballon d’Or.”
Hazard scored a phenomenal solo goal versus Liverpool to hand the Reds their first loss of the season in the League Cup after coming on from the bench. His pace and link up play are looking, even more, sharper as the season has slowly progressed but Chelsea fans would be worried about the dark clouds of Real Madrid looming over him. Hazard earlier stated that it was his dream to join the La Liga giants and Real Madrid would see Hazard as the perfect replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo. Hazard’s close control, speed, and creativity are well acknowledged and Chelsea will have a task on their hand to keep hold of the Belgian superstar.
Hazard has won the Premier League twice with Chelsea including one FA Cup, one Europa League, and one League Cup. But the main honor for the individual award which is the Ballon d’Or has been shared 10 times evenly between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The real question remains that if Hazard wants to win the Ballon d’Or will he remain at Chelsea or join Real Madrid because he certainly possesses the ability to win that honor in his career.
