Hazardous decision: Chelsea’s Belgian wizard, Eden Hazard is undeserving of a Ballon d’Or nomination

FIFA have announced the names of the players that will go head-to-head in the race for this year’s Ballon d’Or prize, with Lionel Messi touted as the favourite to take home his fifth crown in succession.

The usual suspects are there to challenge Messi – Ronaldo, his team-mates Xaviand Iniesta, Franck Ribery, but there’s an unexpected new face among the crowd:Eden Hazard. The Belgian forward got off to a flying start at the start of last season, scoring 4 goals, registering 6 assists and creating a further 37 chances for his teammates before the turn of the year. His form began to drop towards the end of the season however, and although he has started well under Jose Mourinho, most will be questioning his inclusion when the more influential Juan Mata has been left out.

Mata scored more goals (12), registered more assists (12) and laid on more chances (95) than his Chelsea teammate, but has found himself left off the shortlist for the coveted award. His exclusion can partially be blamed on Mourinho’s decision to favour Oscar in the hole this season, leaving Mata fighting for his Chelsea career from the bench.

Hazard’s name is the biggest surprise on the list and brings into question Fifa’s system as many suggest that the list should be chopped down to spare the debate about whether players who had average years should be on it, or not. The 2012/13 campaign saw the Belgium international finish 17th in the Premier League in terms of Performance Score (1413), just more than half of Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla (2673) who has not made the final 23. Cazorla played in every game for the Gunners last season, becoming a key player for the North London side since his move from Malaga last summer.

The best four performances of Hazard’s season came in the opening games, and although many Chelsea fans thought they had found the next big thing, Hazard’s consistency has let him down on occasions. Since the start of the year Hazard has seen his Performance Score fluctuate dramatically – peaking at 159 in one game, before scoring -19 in his very next game.

Oscar’s prominence in Mourinho’s formation means that Hazard is not the main man for his club and the same goes on the international scene. The incredible talent that Belgium are bringing through the ranks these days means that, although he still has a role to play, he has found others grabbing the limelight in recent months.

Still only 22-years-of-age yet already with 41 international caps to his name, Hazard will no doubt become one of the best players in the world one day. Before that day comes however, he must develop a consistency that only the top players possess by making his mark on every game that he plays in. If you look down the list of regular nominees you will find players that play at their peak week-in-week-out. This is something Hazard must look to emulate and he should be thankful that he has Mourinho to guide him down that path.