Is Eden Hazard the Lionel Messi of the Premier League?

Eden Hazard and Lionel Messi at the 2014 World Cup

“I’m no Messi. He is up there and I am down here. It is too much for me.” – Eden Hazard

Before you form any mistaken thoughts of what this article is about, let me break it to you: Eden Hazard is no match for Lionel Messi (in fact, no entity of flesh and blood is). Drawing any comparisons between the two would be like betting the most scrumptious donut in the world to the shiniest dollar in the galaxy. While Hazard may be the creamiest and most flavourful cream puff to have ever been rolled out, he is a donut, nonetheless.

Hazard has said it himself, and the statistics supposedly reaffirm it. Therefore, comparing the two would be the equivalent of carrying coals to Newcastle, for there really is no comparison between the two. The fact that Messi scored three times as many goals as Hazard at the same age only adds more substance to my statement.

But you’ll be surprised if you delve a little bit deeper into the statistics.

Comparing Messi and Hazard’s stats

Following a recent interview of Cesc Fabregas in which the Spaniard labelled Hazard ‘Chelsea’s Messi’, a big debate has emerged regarding the correctness of the statement.

It must be noted that Fabregas merely stated that Hazard was Chelsea’s Messi, and not ‘the next Messi’ or a ‘new Messi’. He was in no way pitting one against the other, only likening Hazard’s disposition to Messi’s.

And that is true, without a shadow of doubt. For, no other player in Jose Mourinho’s outfit plays as alike a brand of football or exercises as profound an influence on the proceedings of the game as Messi, like Hazard does. Let’s look at the parity between the playing styles of both players:

The Argentine may be twinkle-toed, but the Belgian’s not half-shabby either. He skips past defenders left, right and centre (back) with jaw-dropping ease, giving Messi a real run for his money. His close control and technique are second to none in the Premier League, and this is apparent from his belief in his ability to beat a marker. The mercurial Belgian winger has won 168 of his take-ons since the beginning of last season, light years ahead of any other Premier League player.

How many dribbles has Messi won since the beginning of last season? 168. Coincidence? I think not.

Hazard too possesses impeccable vision, and this is evident from his 85 key passes last season, the highest in the Premier League. In fact, Hazard has produced even more chances than the messiah, his 99 key passes since last season trumping Messi’s 83 key passes dring the same period. In terms of passing accuracy too, Hazard has a superior percentage to Messi, successfully completing 91% of his passes this season.

Hazard may not be half the goalscorer that Messi is, but he still has a better conversion rate, netting in 2% more of his shots than Messi.

I pray you do not interpret these above statistics as proof that Hazard is better than Messi, for that would be a harebrained assumption. The above stats have been presented only with the view to bring out the likeness in their styles of play, not intended to indicate that Hazard is a better dribbler, passer or striker of the ball than Messi.

These are a few aspects in which the two are neck and neck, and we can safely assume from the stats, that a much more ruthless and clinical Eden Hazard, one that would be as prolific a goalscorer as Messi, would be identical to the Argentine in all aspects.

Is Hazard the Messi of the Premier League?

We have discussed how Hazard is an able challenger for Messi’s crown. Now let us see whether he is the most potent candidate in the Premier League.

Taking into account all of Messi’s distinct traits (mentioned above) along with goals and assists, here is a statistical analysis of the Premier League’s players who are the closest fit to Messi, with Messi’s stats being uses as a yardstick for the other players’ performance. The top 5 performers in the League last season (excluding Hazard) on the basis of dribbles completed, key passes, goals scored, assists accrued, and goals per 100 shots have been considered. Luis Suarez has not been included as he is no longer in the Premier League.

From the above data, it is unclear who emerges as the comprehensive frontrunner. While Hazard is miles ahead of his Premier League counterparts in terms of dribbles completed and also leads the pack in the key passes aspect, Alexis Sanchez also makes a convincing case for himself with his prolific goalscoring record and conversion rate. None of the others- save Di Maria with his impressive tally of assists- can stake a claim anywhere near Messi (Don’t forget, these are the Premier League’s best players in the above five aspects combined, statistically). Therefore, if the contest for the Premier League’s version of Messi is a two-horse race contested between Hazard and Sanchez, the obvious choice would have to be Hazard, since Sanchez, save the two aforementioned aspects, fared dismally when measured up to Hazard. Not to mention the fact that, Sanchez is still an untested quantity in the Premier League, therefore, it would be unfair to tout him as the Premier League’s Messi.

That leaves the modest Hazard as the sole claimant to this title.

CONCLUSION:

Eden Hazard has long dazzled us with his ability to pull a rabbit out of his hat. So much so that he has become the face of a team of Chelsea’s stature. He has been there and about the cream of the footballing crop because of this very ability to conjure, to make something out of nothing. He has been the spearhead of the Blues contingent for three seasons now, because of this very ability. That ability has never been in question, the promise to live up to it has. Has this question been answered? It has, hitherto. Which is why I am writing, and you are reading a piece that mentions him in the same breath as Lionel Messi.

Whether or not Eden Hazard is the Messi of the Premier League is a question, not of notable importance, to Eden, at least. A better question to ask would be if Eden is the Hazard of the Premier League, with three more brothers- one whom Eden claims is better than him- waiting to take the world by storm. But that question is not upon us yet, and will not be upon us for a few years to come. Therefore let us content ourselves with discussions of Eden- recipient of the PFA Young Player of the year 2014.

Eden is a thorn in the face of any opposition, a menace to defenders and goalkeepers alike, a threat to Messi’s crown, and if the present is any indication of the future, instead of discussing whether Hazard is the Messi of the Premier League,three years from now, we could be deliberating over whether another player can hold a candle to the Hazard that is Eden.