5 reasons why Eden Hazard could be a Ballon d’Or contender this season

Even though football is mostly about teamwork, there are some players that capture the imagination of the fans like none other. These are the players that almost always win the best individual accolades that further solidify their status as the finest in the game.

In this regard, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo lead the fray – but there is another player who also does the same, though to a lesser extent. And that is Eden Hazard. Over the years, he has been Chelsea’s main man in attack, but hasn’t taken his game to the premium level – something that is expected of him.

With both the Portuguese and the Argentine playing in their 30s now, the time is near for someone else to topple them – and here are 5 reasons why Hazard could be that man come January 2019 (the performances of this season, which is 2017-18, is being talked and not for the Ballon d’Or that comes next in 2018 January).

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#5 Morata link-up

Hazard will benefit a lot playing with Morata

The only thing that stands between Eden Hazard and the Ballon d’Or podium is goals. The Belgian maestro is not really much invested in goal-scoring feats like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are. While both the Portuguese and the Argentine have a tendency to find themselves in scoring positions, Hazard is more than happy to sit back and play the assist.

With Alvaro Morata, things might be a little different. The Spaniard might not be among the best of finishers, but he has the ability to build plays in attack. This is a skill that will help Hazard greatly as he will be more prone to attack the goal than ever before.

This doesn’t really happen when Diego Costa plays because he owns the penalty box of the opponents and bullies the defenders to stamp his authority. However, Morata is more than willing to drop back and become a play-making forward to get the better out of his nearest team-mates.

#4 Champions League point to prove

Chelsea won the Champions League in 2012

Eden Hazard joined Chelsea after the Blues won the Champions League with Roberto Di Matteo at helm. Since then, however, they haven’t really kept up the standard that they set in 2012. Last season, they were not even in the competition.

This season, however, they are back in it and march on as the champions of England – and there is a point to prove, both for Hazard and Antonio Conte.

The Italian might have overseen a glorious period at Juventus, bringing them back to the top of Serie A, but his side's displays in Europe were far from convincing. At Chelsea, he will be determined to change his European record while also sustaining the league dominance.

And for Hazard, he joined the club due to the fact that they were the European champions, so the hunger for winning the greatest club competition is always there. Since these two have a point to prove, we can expect Chelsea to go far in the Champions League with the Belgian leading them from front – and that will help his Ballon d’Or credentials.

#3 Premier League favourites?

It doesn't matter who the favourites are when you've got a serial winner in Conte

To put it simply, Chelsea weren’t the hot favourites to win the league last season. The story is somewhat similar this season as Manchester City are expected to win the league due to the strong attack that they have. City have strengthened their defence and are expected to clinch the title come May next year.

But then there is the Antonio Conte factor. The Italian is a pioneer when it comes to winning the league. He has won four league titles in a row – three with Juventus and one with Chelsea – and will certainly look to make it 5 by the end of the season.

In attack last season, Eden Hazard was their most influential player – and it will be the same again this season. If Conte can once again pull off another Premier League title with Hazard as the leading figure in attack, we might as well see the Belgian sharing the Ballon d’Or podium with two others come January 2019.

#2 World Cup 2018

The most prestigious trophy of them all

Playing in Russia is always a hard task due to the extreme weather conditions in the country. With temperatures reaching minus figures, it is going to be tough for footballers out there to play to their best.

The most acquainted ones, however, will be better than the ones that are not (Captain Obvious strikes!). European players are more favoured to the snow than South Americans, which is why Eden Hazard could fare better than the likes of Lionel Messi and Neymar in the World Cup next year.

Since this is the Ballon d’Or for this season’s – 2017-18 – performances that is being considered here, we need to consider the World Cup 2018 because it will be used as a method of evaluating the players. Belgium have a good squad filled with talented players and if Hazard can manage to lead them to a semi-final finish at the very least, he is sure to be considered for the Ballon d’Or come January 2019.

#1 It is about time

It is about time that Eden Hazard stepped up

Well, isn’t it about time for someone to topple Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo? Apart from Neymar, the other player that is always touted to break the duopoly is the mercurial Hazard. The finesse and the technique that he possess has wowed many over the years and it is really about time for him to take his game to the next level and stand there, toe-to-toe, against the very best.

Like mentioned in the first slide, Hazard needs to be hungry for goals and be more arrogant on the pitch. He needs to show the mentality that both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi display – the ever-burgeoning hunger to win.

Over the years, Hazard has shown his tremendous potential – something that could actually make him a Ballon d’Or winner in the future. All he needs is to display a sense of insatiable hunger – and with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi reaching the final phase of their respective careers, it is about time that he does.