Eden Hazard Says Players 'Need to Be Selfish' to Win Ballon D'Or

Chelsea talisman Eden Hazard has suggested he may not have what it takes to win the Ballon d'Or after saying "you need to be selfish" in order to win the biggest individual prize in football.  

Speaking to BBC Sport presenter Gabby Logan, Hazard spoke of his father's comments to him when he was young, asserting that he was too selfless to win the Ballon d'Or:

"He always told me that. Maybe it's true. I think, in football now, if you want to win something like the Ballon d'Or or [to be the] top scorer, you need to be selfish. But I'm not like this, not at all. So, I'm just who I am."

Hazard, 27, scored 16 goals and recorded 13 assists in all competitions this season as Chelsea ran to fifth in the Premier League in what was a disappointing defence of their title.

The Blues face Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Saturday, but not even a star turn-out there and a superb 2018 FIFA World Cup would put Hazard in contention for the Ballon d'Or at the end of the year.

That's where many might have predicted he'd be at this stage of his career upon leaving Lille for Stamford Bridge in 2012. He's won two Premier League titles, the UEFA Europa League and a League Cup in west London, but Hazard appears no closer to challenging for the Ballon d'Or.

Along with selfishness, one could ask whether team and environment are big factors in competing for a trophy like the Ballon d'Or. 

Hazard told Belgian journalist Kristof Terreu how important summer signings are after a poor campaign, and suitors are likely hoping to lure him from Chelsea's clutches:

One might wonder what opportunities there will be for certain stars to emerge in the Ballon d'Or race in the years to come, with Cristiano Ronaldo, 33, and Lionel Messi, 30, not able to win forever.

Some might look at Messi's joint-record five Ballon d'Or triumphs as proof you don't need to be "selfish" to win the award, given the Argentinian's generosity with his team-mates.

Hazard has registered more goals than assists in four of his six seasons at Chelsea so far, indicating he may have more of a finisher's eye for goal than he gives himself credit for.

He might not be ideal Ballon d'Or material still, but he would be unwise to change his methods now after rising to become one of the biggest talents in Europe.