Eden Hazard has had the privilege of playing alongside some of his generation’s finest players, and he recently listed the six standout teammates he has had the honor of sharing the pitch with.
In a recent appearance on the Obi One Podcast, Hazard reflected on his stints at Lille, Chelsea, and Real Madrid, ultimately narrowing down his list to six exceptional players.
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Despite the wealth of talent he’s been surrounded by, the 33-year-old managed to select a diverse mix of teammates, including one unexpected choice. Here are the six players Hazard singled out during the interview.
Kevin De Bruyne
It’s evident without explanation. Among the players Hazard listed, De Bruyne stood out as the sole national teammate, and rightfully so.
In their peak seasons, both were arguably the Premier League’s finest, with De Bruyne likely still holding that title.
Despite Belgium’s Golden Generation not securing any major titles, witnessing Hazard and De Bruyne’s synergy on the field was a delight. It’s regrettable they couldn’t clinch any international trophies together.
Frank Lampard
Despite only sharing the pitch with Lampard for a brief period, Hazard promptly acknowledged the Chelsea legend as one of his top teammates.
This sentiment appears to be reciprocal, as Lampard himself swiftly identified Hazard as one of the premier players he’s ever played alongside during a 2017 interview.
“He’s [Hazard] at the top of the tree in terms of ability on the ball, awareness and skill,” Lampard to Sky Sports in 2017.
“His skill on the ball, how he does it at speed, he’s just a world class player.”
Juan Mata
Though Hazard’s tenure alongside Mata at Stamford Bridge lasted only a year and a half, the Spanish playmaker evidently left a lasting impact on him.
Mata’s stint at Chelsea arguably marked the pinnacle of his career. With an impressive tally of 90 goal contributions in just 135 appearances for the club, the Spaniard showcased brilliance throughout his time in London.
Luka Modric
It’s truly disappointing that La Liga supporters missed out on witnessing Hazard’s peak performance, yet the Belgian winger wasted no time in acknowledging some of the top talents at Real Madrid as his standout teammates.
Modric, the Croatian midfielder, unquestionably ranks among the finest players of his era and is a deserving addition to Hazard’s list. It’s regrettable that due to Hazard’s injuries, they didn’t have more opportunities to share the pitch together.
Karim Benzema
Throughout Hazard’s tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu, Benzema emerged as arguably the club’s standout performer.
The Frenchman elevated his game after Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure and experienced some of his most exceptional years post-2018. His standout season came in 2021-22, where he netted an impressive 44 goals and led Real Madrid’s charge in the Champions League.
Despite limited playing time, with just 903 minutes on the field during that season, Hazard remained closely connected to the action enough to acknowledge Benzema’s brilliance.
Gael Kakuta
An unexpected addition to the list, but Hazard was firm in his belief that Kakuta belonged among the best players he had the privilege of playing with.
The DR Congo international had a six-year tenure at Stamford Bridge but managed only 16 senior appearances. Primarily loaned out during his time at Chelsea, Kakuta departed the club in 2015 after failing to secure a regular spot in the starting lineup.
Despite Kakuta’s struggles in England, Hazard attested to the winger’s exceptional natural talent, hailing him as one of the most gifted players he had encountered during their formative years in France.
“You asked me talent. Kakuta by far number one. Talent. I mean, talent. Wow,” Hazard said.
“I think now is easy to say but I think it went a bit too early [to] Chelsea. He was 16 when he when he when he left France for Chelsea, you know? And that step at 16 is a huge step.”
