5 world-class footballers who might never be back to their best again

#3 Eden Hazard (Real Madrid)

Athletic Club v Real Madrid CF - La Liga Santander

When Eden Hazard finally secured his dream move to Real Madrid in 2019, football fans were expecting him to take his game to another level. The Belgian international had been phenomenal for Chelsea up until that point.

So the expectation was that he'd take his game up a notch like Cristiano Ronaldo after joining Los Blancos from Manchester United. Little did we know that Hazard had already hit his peak. In his prime, Hazard was uncatchable.

He possessed an incredible burst of pace, was as technically gifted as any modern winger we'd seen and his decision-making was simply elite. In 352 appearances across all competitions for Chelsea, Hazard scored 110 goals and provided 92 assists.

Over the course of two and a half seasons at Real Madrid, the 31-year-old has made just 62 appearances across all competitions. He has managed to score just six goals whilst racking up 10 assists. It is clear as day that Hazard's best days are way behind him as he plays second-fiddle to Vinicius Jr. at Real Madrid.

#2 Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)

Villarreal CF v Real Madrid CF - La Liga Santander

Going by sheer talent and athletic ability, Gareth Bale is perhaps the closest thing we've seen to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The Welshman turned heads with his incredible performances for Tottenham Hotspur and won the PFA Players' Player of the Year twice.

Real Madrid signed him in 2013 for around €91 million and he started delivering for them straight out the gate. He scored crucial goals for them in the 2013-14 and 2017-18 Champions League finals and was unstoppable on his day. The pacy forward turned in world-class performances consistently in his heyday.

Bale also became part of one of the deadliest attacking trios, the BBC, alongside Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo.

But he had a falling out with then-manager Zinedine Zidane and fell out of favor. Real Madrid then blocked a potential move to China and Bale was none too pleased about it. He even publicly undermined Real Madrid a few times before he was sent to his former club Spurs on loan for the 2020-21 season.

Bale did a decent job there despite his spell being marred by injury issues. Constant injury problems have definitely stopped Bale from maximizing his potential but he has had an illustrious career replete with several stunning goals and moments.

But it has become clear this season that Bale is way past his prime and that a return to his glory days is no longer possible. He has started just four La Liga games for Real Madrid this term.

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Manchester United v Southampton - Premier League

Cristiano Ronaldo left Juventus last summer with his head held high. He had won the Serie A Golden Boot, scoring 29 goals in 33 appearances for the Bianconeri last season. In 134 appearances for the Old Lady since joining them in 2018, Ronaldo has scored 101 goals and provided 22 assists.

He also scored five goals and provided an assist in four games for Portugal at Euro 2020 and won the Golden Boot at the continental tournament as well. That's why he was expected to improve Manchester United's attack this term.

Although he has scored 14 goals in 27 appearances so far this season for the Red Devils, the fact that Ronaldo is well past his prime has not been more apparent. Sure, he is 37-years-old and it's been a while since he lost a yard of pace but the drop in levels in recent months has been quite appalling.

The Portuguese international has now gone six games without scoring, his biggest goal drought since his early days at Real Madrid when he had gone five games without scoring. Ronaldo's link-up play has been poor as well. His shooting has been nothing to write home about and he hardly ever gets on the end of good crosses.