Eden Hazard’s Comments About Mohamed Salah from 2019 Resurface After Retirement

• Eden Hazard recently announced his retirement from football
• The Belgian will go down as one of the great stars of the game
• Hazard once had interesting comments about Mohamed Salah

In the wake of Eden Hazard’s retirement from football, the debate on who the better player is in his prime between the Belgian and Liverpool star, Mohamed Salah has come to life once again.

On Tuesday, Hazard released a statement many football fans were dreading, as he announced he would be walking away from professional football, saying he had been 'able to realise his dream'.

His retirement can largely be attributed to the many injuries he endured during his career, with the 32-year-old unable to find a new club after getting released by Real Madrid in June.

The Belgian star leaves the game having won several league titles, including the Ligue 1 with Lille, according to Transfermarkt.

On social media, fans inevitably reignited the debate on who is the better player between Hazard and Salah, who is still going strong with Liverpool, at the age of 31.

Messi or Ronaldo? Gary Neville names the football GOAT

Football

What Hazard said about Salah

In 2019, Hazard gave fans some perspective on how he viewed his so-called rival, who was in the form of his life for the Reds.

As cited by The Evening Standard, he placed the Egyptian in the same class as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi; something which showed the Belgian’s grace and class.

"I like [Luka] Modric. He’s more of a midfielder than me but, of course, I like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Mo Salah is one of my good friends and he’s doing something incredible. I try to look at this player and this player and try to reach that level."

Before attempting to answer this question, it is worth noting that at some point, Hazard was in the conversation for the best player in the world.

Comparing him and Salah would be similar to comparing apples and oranges, as they both have unique abilities as players in their own rights.

De Gea sends Lisandro Martinez message after defender's latest injury setback

Football

When Mourinho predicted Hazard’s downfall

Sports Brief also reported on veteran tactician, Jose Mourinho predicting Hazard’s early retirement back in 2014.

The manager was critical of the lack of protection players like the Belgian were accorded due to opposition fouls.

Mourinho said Hazard was an 'honest guy' and rarely went down on the first contact, making opponents try harder.