Kevin De Bruyne Says Former Real Madrid Star Was Only Behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar
Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar are among the most talented players of this generation. The three superstars captured fans' attention, as very few could do.
Manchester City ace Kevin De Bruyne thinks Real Madrid had a player who was only behind those three superstars regarding talent.
The player in question is none other than Eden Hazard. After a glorious Premier League stint, the Belgian joined Los Blancos as the club's most expensive transfer. However, he failed miserably in the Spanish capital and is currently retired.
MORE: Real Madrid's 10 Most Expensive Signings Ever
In a recent Sky Sports Premier League interview, De Bruyne was asked about the best Belgian player in EPL's history. The midfielder said:
For me, it has to be Eden. I think, talent-wise, he’s probably like top-five in the world behind Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar. Eden on his day was so, so good. His quality in one-v-one, his dribbling, he never seemed to care, he was just playing football. I played with him since we were both 16 and he’s a really nice guy too.
"Talent-wise he's probably like top five in the world" ✨
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 19, 2025
Kevin De Bruyne tells us who he thinks is the most iconic Belgian player 🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/saJoUXwVGJ
Eden Hazard is a two-time Premier League winner with Chelsea. He made 245 appearances in the English top flight, scoring 85 goals and providing 54 assists. Hazard tore apart the league in style with his mazy runs and exceptional dribbling.
His Real Madrid spell, however, was far from ideal. Hazard consistently struggled with fitness issues. The Belgian made only 76 appearances, scoring seven goals and providing 12 assists. Hazard called time on his career in October 2023.
The Latest Real Madrid News:
Pep Guardiola Names Three Teams Who Could Stop Real Madrid Winning The Champions League
Thibaut Courtois Thinks Erling Haaland Could Score Like Cristiano Ronaldo At Real Madrid
Champions League Draw: Date And Time When Real Madrid Find Out Round of 16 Opponent
Apratim is an experienced sports journalist having covered European and World Football, Combat Sports, Olympic Sports, and more for online media publications like Sportskeeda, EssentiallySports, and more. He is currently an MSc. in Sport Marketing student at Loughborough University, London.