Former Belgium international Eden Hazard has named Thibaut Courtois as a future greatest goalkeeper of all time while assembling his dream XI alongside Robert Pirès, crediting the Real Madrid goalkeeper for key contributions throughout his career.
Hazard Names Courtois as Future All-Time Great
Speaking during a video recorded at the 33rd General Assembly of the European Club Association (ECA), Hazard evaluated the standout teammates from his professional career across Lille OSC, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and the Belgian national team. When selecting the goalkeeper for his ideal lineup, the former player did not hesitate. “The best goalkeeper? Thibaut Courtois. I think one day he will become the all-time best ever,” he stated, noting that there have been many great keepers in football history and adding that he had the good fortune to play alongside him at Chelsea, Belgium, and Real Madrid.
The pair shared dressing rooms at Stamford Bridge, the Santiago Bernabéu, and with the Belgian national team, giving Hazard extensive insight into the goalkeeper’s impact. “He is a player of another class. He was excellent in every way and saved us so many times. Thanks to him I won so many prizes,” Hazard said of the goalkeeper of Real Madrid.
Kompany Featured Among Elite Defenders of the Last Two Decades
Alongside Courtois, Hazard included former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany in his selection of elite defenders. Comparing him across two decades of football, Hazard placed his compatriot alongside other world-class center-backs. “I have played with Sergio Ramos, John Terry, and Vincent Kompany. These three are absolute elite. If we talk about the defenders of the last twenty years, then John Terry, Sergio Ramos, and Kompany belong to the top five or six,” Hazard explained.
Hazard highlighted not only their defensive capabilities but also their commanding presence on the pitch. “When these guys gave a speech before the match, you wanted to play for them,” Hazard said.
Career Reflections on World-Class Teammates
The exercise with Pirès captured Hazard’s retrospective view of playing alongside global stars at the highest levels of club and international football. Across multiple reports detailing the ECA assembly video, Hazard emphasized that the technical proficiency of players like Terry and Ramos combined with the psychological impact of leaders like Kompany defined the standard of elite competition over the past twenty years.
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