Former Real Madrid and Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o believes that Eden Hazard is close to Lionel Messi's level.
Eto'o, who's better known for his time at the Camp Nou than in the Spanish capital, tipped the Belgian to win the Ballon d'Or while at Real Madrid.
"Hazard has to win the Ballon d'Or," he said to Radio MARCA and El Partidazo of COPE.
"He hasn't been valued enough but now he's at one of the best teams in the world all eyes will be on him.
"He's close to Messi's level and I hope that he plays Barcelona when he's not at 100 percent."
Neymar has been continually linked with a return to Barcelona this summer, which Eto'o is excited by.
"If he returns home, it'll be good for the project and the future," he said.
Related:
Real Madrid
Barcelona
Qatar SC
Messi
Samuel Eto'o
Hazard
auwalrogo
255
Hazard is not even close to Neymar or ronaldo's level. Nobody is close to Messi's level because he's above world class. What individual award has Hazard even won at European or global level?
chizzlekay
121
Am a Madrid fan and i love hazard even before he came to Madrid but any player who’s in this Messi and Ronaldo ain’t even close to any of the two! Are you kidding me? Two players that has dominated for 10years? Please say something else
SINGAM23
8
Referring to Eto'o statement: "Hazard is close to Messi's level"...... (what level in reality to be seen, just when the whole world witnesses the trashing of 3-7 by Atletico a fortnight ago... !!!) Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane and the entire squad were in total helpless (exceptional for Bale, whom sat and kept his smiles louder than the trashing)
foedklsuz
8
Hazard is not even close to Neymar or ronaldo's level. Nobody is close to Messi's level because he's above world class. What individual award has Hazard even won at European or global level?
True..the only stats Hazard has higher than Neymar is his AGE!!![Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]..and besides CR7 level..he hasn't even glimpse that[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]