Tuesday, 14th February, 2012


Eden Hazard has revealed that he believes Cristiano Ronaldo is a more complete player than Lionel Messi, but picked an off-beat choice as the player he aspires to be like.

The Belgian forward is one of the most in-demand players in world football at present and is expected to leave French champions Lille at the end of the current campaign.

Hazard looks likely to go to England, though he has admitted a liking for Spanish football, claiming however that only Barcelona and Real Madrid would be realistic options.

And the stars of those two Spanish giants are players Hazard has an opinion on.

"Messi is the strongest", said the forward to TV show Tribune.

"He’s at the best team in the world. If I could take something from Messi it would be his left foot, he’s a class act."

Nevertheless though, Hazard places Ronaldo just ahead of the Argentine.

"Ronaldo has a game that is more complete than Messi. He’s a true athlete."

But the player that Hazard aspires to be like is neither Messi or Ronaldo.

"[Juan Roman] Riquelme is my reference point.

"He has class, elegance. He’s not very fast and he doesn’t jump very high, but he has the moves."

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