Is Eden Hazard's 40-Goal Season the New Standard for the Best Player in the World?

It’s often argued that if Eden Hazard manages to score 40 goals in a season, it would be a testament to his status as one of the best players in the world. However, the reality of top-flight football suggests that such a feat, while impressive, does not necessarily equate to being the best. Let's dive into the nuances of this argument and explore what achieving 40 goals means for Hazard's career.

Chasing an Unlikely Goal

It’s highly unlikely that Eden Hazard will score 40 goals in a single Premier League season. This is due to the nature of the English top flight, where players are constantly being tasked with maintaining high form throughout the season. Additionally, Hazard is a key playmaker and goalscorer for Chelsea, and his inconsistency might lead to a burnout by the mid-season mark. Moreover, the presence of other goal-scoring forwards like Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud can affect his contributions to the team.

Consistency Matters: Messi and Ronaldo

Contrast this with Lionel Messi, who has consistently scored 40 goals or more in each of the last 11 calendar years. His ability to maintain such consistent form over an extended period is a hallmark of his exceptional skill and dedication. When Messi was in form, top players like Eden Hazard and Neymar faced an incredibly challenging task to match his performance and even surpass it. With Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at their peak, it was virtually impossible for Hazard or Neymar to be crowned the best in the world without themselves also performing at their highest standard.

The Post-Ronaldo and Messi Era

However, as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo age and their dominance gradually diminishes, the landscape of the world game might change. Once these two legendary players retire, players like Hazard and Neymar will stand a better chance of challenging for the Ballon d'Or. In this post-Ronaldos and Messis era, a player like Hazard who can maintain 40 goal consistency for several seasons might indeed be seen as the best in the world. This is because he would be setting a new standard of performance and consistency that current and future generations of football players would have to meet.

Criticism and Bias

Critics argue that the notion of Messi and Ronaldo having a "vested right" to the title of the best player is unjust. They claim that a player's success is often tied to their team's performance and the support they receive. While this point is valid and does not diminish the skill of Messi and Ronaldo, it does highlight a certain bias. Football, like any other sport, is often judged more on its outcomes than the efforts of individual players. A player’s ability to lead their team to success, even with less glamorous stats, is also a strong argument for their greatness.

The 40-Goal Dilemma

Even if Hazard were to achieve 40 goals in a season, this alone might not be enough to prove he is the best. Shooting 40 goals in the Premier League, given the duties of international matches and the pressure of the EPL, is a monumental task. Furthermore, the contributions of a player go beyond just goals. Considering that Mohamed Salah, in a season when he was in top form with 40 goals, could still not secure a Ballon d'Or despite a dominant campaign, we see that other factors like team winning and overall impact are crucial. As such, while 40 goals would be an impressive achievement, it would need to be consistent and sustained over multiple seasons to even consider it a benchmark for becoming the best player in the world.

Conclusion: While a 40-goal season by Eden Hazard would be a significant achievement, it alone might not be enough to prove his superiority over players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The consistency, longevity, and impact of a player’s contributions in winning titles and impacting games are key factors in determining the best player in the world. As Messi and Ronaldo’s dominance wane, players like Hazard might gain more recognition, but a 40-goal season will need more to stand out among the elite.