Eden Hazard Names the Most Talented Players He Played With at Chelsea

Few players in modern Chelsea history dazzled quite like Eden Hazard.

During his time at Chelsea FC, the Belgian shared a dressing room — and the Stamford Bridge spotlight — with some of the most iconic names of the era. From leaders to legends, Hazard experienced elite talent at close range.

Now, he has been asked a simple but loaded question: who was the most talented player he encountered in his career?

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A Difficult Question — No Single Answer

Speaking to RMC Sport, Hazard admitted he couldn’t settle on just one name.

“Obviously, there have been a few, there have been two or three really talented players. When I arrived, there was Juan Mata, magnificent left foot. Mata was talented, Gervinho was talented at Lille.

There have been a lot of talented players, Cesc Fabregas, [Kevin] De Bruyne.”

Rather than single out one definitive choice, Hazard opted to highlight several technically gifted players he either played alongside or admired.

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Juan Mata: A Special Chelsea Partnership

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One name that stood out was Juan Mata.

When Hazard arrived in west London in 2012, Mata was already a central creative force in the side. The pair quickly formed an understanding, combining technical ability with intelligent movement between the lines.

Together, they lifted the UEFA Europa League in the 2012/13 season — Hazard’s first year at the club.

In total, the duo played 69 matches together before Mata made a £37 million move to Manchester United in 2014.

Interestingly, their trophy cabinets at Chelsea tell contrasting stories:

• Mata won the UEFA Champions League but never claimed a Premier League title.
• Hazard won two Premier League titles but did not secure a Champions League medal during his Stamford Bridge spell.

Hazard would eventually add a Champions League trophy to his collection after moving to Real Madrid CF, completing one of the few missing pieces in his career.

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Fabregas, De Bruyne and Others

Hazard also name-checked Cesc Fabregas and Kevin De Bruyne — two midfielders renowned for their vision and technical quality.

While Hazard and De Bruyne never truly peaked together at Chelsea, both would go on to define an era of Premier League football in their own ways.

Beyond Chelsea, Hazard even mentioned Gervinho, recalling his time at Lille before his move to England.

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Comparisons Rejected

Recently, Gary Neville attempted to draw comparisons between Hazard and current Chelsea winger Pedro Neto.

Those suggestions were quickly dismissed by Hazard’s former Belgium national team coach, Roberto Martinez, who made it clear that the Belgian operated on a different level during his prime years.

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A Legacy Built on Talent

Hazard’s comments underline just how much elite quality surrounded him throughout his career.

From Mata’s left foot to Fabregas’ vision and De Bruyne’s creativity, he shared the pitch with world-class talent. Yet, in his own prime, many would argue Hazard himself was the most unplayable of them all.

Sometimes, the most talented player in the room doesn’t need to say it.