Who is a better footballer between Eden Hazard and Mohammed Salah? This is a debate that has been on the lips of every football fan. The two players have dazzled the audiences in the English Premier League. Hazard shone brightly for Chelsea and Salah has been the fulcrum of Liverpool.
As expected, the banters are always twisted with bouts of emotions. Chelsea fans, in particular, always made the case that Hazard was a more dynamic and magical player, capable of the most incredible solo efforts and mesmeric moments.
Liverpool fans have, equally, continued to point towards Salah’s consistency, goalscoring, and the numerous individual and team honours he has won in England and Europe.
However, Hazard himself has finally put an end to that. When asked if he thinks he is better than Mohamed Salah, Hazard did not mince words. He said, “Mo Salah.”
That straight answer speaks volumes about Hazard’s humility and respect toward the achievements of his former Chelsea teammate but who is a better footballer between the two players?
Eden Hazard Vs Mo Salah (Football Qualities)
Eden Hazard and Mohamed Salah are two wingers, yet they have very distinct methods of doing business on the pitch. Hazard was known for exceptional dribbling, close control, and the ability to craft something out of absolutely nothing.
He could glide past defenders with ease and was the master at drawing fouls, often helping his team gain important set pieces. Hazard also had a unique way of linking up with teammates in tight spaces, often playing as much of a creator as he was a finisher.
On the contrary, Salah is more direct. He is known for his blistering pace, clinical finishes, and to score goals from tight angles. Salah does great intelligent runs behind defenders and any time he finds himself in such positions where he can score, his accuracy and composure are second to none.
While Hazard has more often than not been about creating much for others, Salah’s game has been firmly about finding the back of the net with consistency.
Eden Hazard vs Mohamed Salah: A Career Stats and Honors Comparison
Eden Hazard and Mohamed Salah were known for their different style of play, especially when the former was active. However, their legacies are often spoken about together, each achieving something great in their own right. A look at what both have achieved in their career statistics and honours gives a closer view.
Eden Hazard began his professional career with the French club Lille before his rise to prominence in Chelsea. In London, he came to be known for these attributes of exceptional dribbling skills, vision, and flair on the ball.
Hazard broke the defences quite easily and was one of the most dangerous attackers in the Premier League. He netted a decent 110 goals in 352 appearances for Chelsea, many times being in positions that saw him create chances rather than taking them. The rewards came back to back with two Premier League titles in 2015 and 2017, further cementing him as one of the league’s top talents.
Domestically, Hazard was also successful in the cup competitions. He won the FA Cup in 2018 and the League Cup in 2015. At the continental level, he contributed to Chelsea’s Europa League victories in both 2013 and 2019.
As for individual recognition, Hazard took home the PFA Player of the Year in 2015 and went ahead to win the highly prestigious FWA Footballer of the Year that same year. That 2019 move to Real Madrid was supposed to be the next step in this glittering career, but injuries got in the way.
Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah’s path to stardom was somewhat different. After initially starting at Basel, he went briefly with Chelsea, Fiorentina, and Roma before finally finding his home at Liverpool. Since joining the Merseyside club back in 2017, Salah has grown into one of the most prolific goalscorers to have ever played in the Premier League, reaching as many as 200+ goals scored for Liverpool.
His pace, complemented by precision and the ability to finish from tight angles, made him a constant threat in front of the goal. He took little time to earn his name among the best forwards in the world. Salah means much to Liverpool.
He played a crucial role as the Reds won the Premier League in 2020, their first league title in 30 years. He also helped the team win the Champions League title in 2019.
Beyond those main titles, Salah has played an important role in Liverpool’s successes in the FA Cup and League Cup in 2022. Regarding individual praise, he won PFA Player of the Year in 2018, adding two FWA Footballer of the Year in 2018 and 2022. He is a three-time winner of the Premier League Golden Boot
Is Mo Salah better than Eden Hazard?
While Eden Hazard did have sparkling moments of brilliance, especially at Chelsea, he struggled with injuries when he moved to Real Madrid and was never allowed to build on the success achieved in the Premier League.
As a talented dribbler and playmaker Hazard struggled with consistency and an ability to deliver in the crucial moments. This is what Salah has achieved with Liverpool, making him a more accomplished player of the two.
