Eden Hazard is the Michael Jordan of football, says Martinez

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez likened Real Madrid star Eden Hazard to NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and said the he deserves to win the Ballon D'or.

Published : Dec 06, 2019 15:50 IST

Eden Hazard – regarded as one of the best players in the world – joined La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid from Chelsea this year.
Eden Hazard – regarded as one of the best players in the world – joined La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid from Chelsea this year.
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Eden Hazard – regarded as one of the best players in the world – joined La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid from Chelsea this year.

Eden Hazard is the Michael Jordan of football as Belgium boss Roberto Martinez tipped the Real Madrid star to win the Ballon d'Or.

Hazard – regarded as one of the best players in the world – swapped Premier League outfit Chelsea for La Liga powerhouse Madrid in a blockbuster transfer prior to the start of the season.

The Belgium international has showed flashes of his brilliance, earning praise for his performances prior to suffering a small ankle fracture.

Asked about Hazard, Martinez likened the Belgium captain to Chicago Bulls great and NBA Hall of Famer Jordan.

RELATED| Hazard to miss El Clasico with ankle injury

"I see Hazard winning the Ballon d'Or," Martinez told Cadena Ser program El Larguero . "He has the role of being a Ballon d'Or winner.

"What he has done is the level of the Ballon d'Or and he is always eligible for the prize.

"He has done it at Chelsea, in France. It is difficult for a foreigner to be at the reference of a project that works to win the league.

"He is a last-pass player, a Michael Jordan. Hazard is the Michael Jordan of football."

Hazard – who has scored once this season – will miss El Clasico against Barcelona on December 18 due to a small fracture in his ankle. The Madrid forward was forced off in the 2-2 Champions League draw with Paris Saint-Germain last month.

"It's more the process of the injury," Martinez said on Thursday. "In the game against PSG, he had a setback and now we've discovered that he will spend a bit more time out than expected.

"There's nothing to worry about. You want a player like Eden to be 100 per cent, and now he'd established himself in the team and he was playing well.

"He's in very good physical condition and he'll be back very soon. You don't want to lose players of his level, but a team always has to deal with injuries, suspensions... Real Madrid are well prepared for this."

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