​Nearly three years have passed since Eden Hazard stunned the footballing world by announcing his retirement at the age of 32. The decision came after a staggered run of underwhelming displays for Real Madrid, a string of injuries, and a persistent struggle to maintain peak fitness. Hazard felt that he no longer possessed the pace, agility, and consistency required to compete at the highest level, and so he stepped away from professional football to recalibrate his career away from the glare of the spotlight.
Now, three years into retirement, Hazard has shifted his focus from competing on the pitch to observing the game with a keen eye. He recently shared his thoughts on Lamine Yamal, the prodigious Barcelona teenager who has captured the imagination of fans and pundits alike. Hazard described Yamal as a special talent, drawing a personal line of comparison between his own early career and the youngster’s rise.
Speaking to MARCA, Hazard reflected on the weight of expectation that comes with being a teenage footballing sensation. He recalled his own experience at a similar age, when large crowds and big demands followed him wherever he went. “Lamine Yamal reminds me a little of when I started playing. I was about the same age, and everyone was putting big expectations on me,” Hazard said. The former Chelsea and Real Madrid star believes that if Yamal continues to play with the same sense of freedom and joy that has marked his emergence, he will leave an indelible mark on the World Cup.
“If he enjoys himself on the pitch the way only he knows how to do, I’m convinced he’ll deliver a big World Cup. He’s the kind of player people love to watch,” Hazard added. In his prime, Hazard was recognized as one of the most thrilling attackers in world football, and his reflections this week touched on what he believes lies at the heart of the game. “That’s the essence of football: you have to enjoy it and make people dream,” he concluded, underscoring his enduring philosophy about what makes the sport so captivating.
Yamal’s World Cup campaign has not yet lived up to the sky-high expectations that surround him. The 16-year-old forward has faced some challenges, and his performance has drawn a mix of praise and critique as the tournament has unfolded. Hazard’s remarks come at a moment when Yamal has just returned to action following a hamstring injury that ended his club season prematurely. He has been eased back into the rhythm of competitive football, and both Spain and Yamal appear to be working to regain fluency on the international stage.
Despite some setbacks, there have been bright moments for Yamal in recent fixtures, with dangerous contributions in matches against Austria and Portugal illustrating the young winger’s potential when he is fully fit and motivated. These glimpses hint at what many expect he can become, given time and the right environment. As Spain advance through the tournament, attention turns to how Yamal might influence the remainder of their campaign, and whether he can translate his undeniable potential into decisive performances.
Looking ahead to the quarterfinals, Spain’s clash with Hazard’s homeland, Belgium, looms as a significant test. For Yamal, the encounter represents an opportunity to showcase his growing maturity and to prove that his early promise can translate into striking, influential football at the highest level. For Hazard, the discussion is less about his own career and more about acknowledging a rising star who could shape the sport’s future. In his reflections on Yamal, Hazard emphasizes the universal truths of football—joy, freedom, and the ability to inspire awe in fans around the world. If Yamal continues to embrace those principles, he could well be on the path to delivering a World Cup that fans will remember for a long time.