Eden Hazard, one of football’s most gifted dribblers, has spent his career dazzling fans and defenders alike. Known for his explosive pace, flawless balance, and magnetic control of the ball, the Belgian winger has often been compared to some of the greatest players in the modern era.
Yet, when asked to name the two best dribblers he has ever seen, Hazard delivered an unexpected answer that caught many by surprise and notably, he left out Lionel Messi.
During his interview with So Foot, Hazard reflected on the players who made him fall in love with the art of dribbling. Despite sharing the pitch with countless global stars and going head-to-head with some of the world’s toughest defenders, he pointed to two lesser-celebrated names: Hatem Ben Arfa and Gael Kakuta.
The former Chelsea and Real Madrid star said both players inspired him in ways few others did. “Hatem Ben Arfa and Gael Kakuta are the two greatest dribblers I have ever seen play,” Hazard said.
“They may not have always made the best career choices, and there might be regrets somewhere, but we can’t rewrite history. For me, they are players who made me dream.”
It was a bold claim from a player who himself has been mentioned in the same breath as Ronaldinho, Neymar, and Messi when it comes to skill and creativity. Still, Hazard’s admiration for Ben Arfa and Kakuta speaks volumes about how much he values natural talent and flair over fame and trophies.
Hatem Ben Arfa was once one of the most exciting prospects in French football. He emerged through Lyon’s academy before moving to Marseille, where his dazzling footwork earned him comparisons to the likes of Zidane and Henry.
In 2010, Ben Arfa joined Newcastle United, thrilling Premier League fans with his unpredictable brilliance. But just as he began to shine, injuries derailed his momentum.
Across 84 games for Newcastle, he scored 14 goals and registered 16 assists flashes of genius mixed with frustration. Later stints at Hull City, Nice, Paris Saint-Germain, Rennes, and even Real Valladolid followed, but his career never quite reached the heights many expected.
Gael Kakuta’s story was no less intriguing. Touted as one of France’s most exciting youth prospects, Kakuta moved to Chelsea from Lens in 2007 under controversial circumstances.
His transfer led to a FIFA investigation, earning Chelsea a two-window transfer ban and Kakuta himself a four-month suspension. The immense pressure and early controversy seemed to derail what was once a promising journey.
He made only 16 appearances for the Blues, spending time on loan at clubs like Fulham and Bolton Wanderers before eventually leaving in 2015.
Kakuta’s career took him across the globe from stints in China with Hebei China Fortune to spells in France with Amiens and Lens.
He now plays for Turkish side Sakaryaspor, still displaying glimpses of the elegance that once made him one of the most talked-about teenagers in football.
Hazard’s comments serve as a poignant reminder that talent alone does not define a career. Both Ben Arfa and Kakuta possessed the natural flair that could make even the best defenders stumble, but their paths highlight how crucial consistency, mindset, and opportunity are in determining football greatness.
For Hazard, though, pure artistry remains what captivates him most and in his eyes, Ben Arfa and Kakuta were the embodiment of that.
Throughout his own illustrious journey, Hazard has earned a place among the Premier League’s greatest ever.
During his seven years at Chelsea, he scored 110 goals and provided 88 assists in 352 matches, helping the club win two Premier League titles, two FA Cups, a League Cup, and two Europa League trophies.
His final appearance for Chelsea saw him lift the Europa League in 2019, capping off a spell that solidified his legend in English football.
When a player of Hazard’s calibre praises others for their dribbling magic, it carries weight. While Messi and Ronaldo may have defined an era of goals and records, Hazard’s admiration for players like Ben Arfa and Kakuta reminds fans that beauty in football is also found in creativity, unpredictability, and joy the kind that makes us all dream.
(All statistics sourced from Transfermarkt, correct as of 17 October 2025.)
