Eden Hazard: When Chelsea Legend Settled Messi vs Ronaldo Debate As He Retires

• Eden Hazard called it quits on his career in an emotional social media message on October 10
• The Belgian was at one time spoken in the same breath as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
• Hazard's time at Real Madrid did not go to plan but his time with Chelsea and Lille will live on

Any person worth their salt will tell you that Eden Hazard was that guy. He was the guy you could look up to when your team desperately needed uplifting; he was the guy neutrals would watch to get entertained.

He was the guy coaches would spend lots of time trying to come up with ways to contain him, only for one simple flick to undo the entire plan.

That guy was so dangerous that he was named Hazard. He was a danger to any defensive set-ups; he was a thrill to watch. And after 16 years in the game and more than 700 appearances, that guy decided to call it quits, having lived his dream.

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Eden Hazard's retirement message

"I have played and had fun on many pitches around the world. During my career, I was lucky to meet great managers, coaches and teammates - thank you to everyone for these great times, I will miss you all," he said on Instagram in what makes for a painful read.

Amid that touching farewell message, there is a general feeling of sadness that such a talented footballer has quit too soon. At 32 years of age, Hazard had at least three more years in him but, after his recent tribulations, decided to leave it altogether.

There is no denying that a prime Hazard was one of the best players in this generation. Before his 21st birthday, he had led Lille to the Ligue 1 title, winning individual accolades along the way.

At Chelsea, he set the Premier League ablaze, becoming the division's player for the seven years he spent in West London. From the goal that ended Tottenham Hotspur's title hopes in 2016 to toying with the entire Arsenal defence before scoring that beautiful solo goal - the Belgian was untouchable.

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What Hazard thought of Messi and Ronaldo

It was during his spell in the EPL that he was compared to the two greats football has ever seen - Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Just in case you lived below a rock and never watched Hazard, he had the dribbling skills that could, on his better days, put the Argentine to shame.

So quick and adept was he that he would take on 3, 4, or even 5 players at a go without breaking a sweat, passing them as if they were loosely-hanging curtains in a corridor.

Hazard believed that he had the wherewithal to match Ronaldo, but not Messi because he was from a 'different planet', thus settling the GOAT debate. He made the revelations to his former teammate, John Obi-Mikel.

"He said it himself sometimes, 'If I want to be as good, I can be as good. Not as good as Messi because he is from a different planet, but I think I can get close to Ronaldo or maybe even better'," the Nigerian legend said in an interview with the Athletic.

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Stories are told of how the 32-year-old lazily went about his training sessions but would still excel during match days. Theories have been floated that if he put in the work ethic Ronaldo approaches every facet of his life with, he could have won a couple of Ballon d'Ors during his time.

The last dance

But that was Hazard. Chelsea's timeline is full of his videos pranking teammates, annoying them, conducting silly interviews, and doing everything else no one expected. He did not want to change who he was.

His last years in Madrid certainly tainted his career, but no one will ever take away the glorious seven years he had in England. Or the four years before that in France. Or the numerous times he donned the Red Devils jersey - especially at the 2018 World Cup.

He came. He saw, became hazardous at every opportunity and retired a hero. Au revoir, Eden.