Hazard sees Yamal as a mirror of his younger self — and still believes Belgium can win the World Cup
The former Belgian captain praised Lamine Yamal ahead of the quarter-final, but refuses to let go of the dream: Belgium lifting the trophy in 2026.
Praise the opponent and still believe in your own team. That is exactly what Eden Hazard is doing on the eve of Belgium's quarter-final clash with Spain at the 2026 World Cup.
In an interview with the newspaper Marca, as reported by ge, the former Belgian captain compared Lamine Yamal to himself in the early years of his career. "Lamine Yamal reminds me a little of when I started playing. I was more or less the same age and there were great expectations on me," Hazard said.
The praise came with genuine admiration. "If he enjoys himself on the pitch the way only he knows how, I am convinced he will have a great World Cup," he added. For Hazard, Yamal is exactly the kind of player the public wants to watch.
But the compliments stopped there. When the subject turned to Belgium, the tone shifted. "We have a lot of talent and Belgium can surprise everyone and go far. I believe in them," he said, before going further: "I hope they go all the way and win the title."
Hazard's confidence carries historical weight — and a shadow. He played 126 matches for the Belgian national team, scored 33 goals, and captained the generation that finished third at Russia 2018, eliminating Brazil in the quarter-finals. But against Spain, the record is daunting: two defeats, including a 5–0 loss in qualifying.
The Golmetria model places Spain as the biggest favourite for the title, with a 29% chance of being crowned champions. The market sees it the same way.
The match takes place this Friday in Los Angeles. Belgium want to write a new story. Spain want to justify their status as favourites. And Yamal — well, Yamal wants to be exactly what Hazard once was.