Chelsea star Eden Hazard will never reach the levels of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar because of his lack of ambition, according to Gary Neville and Graeme Souness.
Hazard has emerged as one of the best players in the Premier League since joining Chelsea from Lille in 2012 and was named in the PFA Team of the Year last season after helping the Blues win the title.
The Belgium international has also been nominated for the 2017 Ballon d’Or award but lacks the ambition and passion of the elite’s best, according to Manchester United legend Neville and former Liverpool defender Souness.
‘I think the real top men hurt badly when it goes badly, he has the potential to be one of the best,’ Souness told Sky Sports ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League clash against United.
‘It does matter – to be a top man. He’s in and out, there’s other players who are more consistent than him and yet few players with his ability.
‘He’s a very good player and has the potential to be one of the best in the world but he’s not because he’s not consistent enough.’
After hearing Hazard claim he had no interest in being recognised as one of the best players in the world, Neville responded: It deflates me enormously. It really does.
Chelsea 2017/18 Fixtures
Newcastle (A) - Sun May 13
‘He is a top player… look he beat me nine times out of ten in one v one situations so we’re talking about a top player.
‘But we’re trying to push him into that Nemyar category… he’s never going to get there, he deflated me with his passion.’
Hazard, meanwhile, paid tribute to former manager Jose Mourinho as Chelsea prepared to face title rivals Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
‘When Jose came he tried to make me one of the best players in England and I think he put this in my mind, that it was possible,’ Hazard told Sky Sports.
‘I started to realise that if I’m playing well in every game I could be one of the best.’
MORE : Antonio Conte takes dig at Jose Mourinho ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Manchester United
Share this with