Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele had the pleasure of playing alongside some of the best players to have ever graced the game.
For the Belgian national team, the retired maestro played alongside greats such as Manchester City legends such as Vincent Kompany and Kevin De Bruyne as well as Eden Hazard to name a few.
During his time at Tottenham, the 37-year-old trained and shared the pitch with names like Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and Toby Alderweireld as he was a key part of one of Spurs’ best-ever sides under Mauricio Pochettino.
While as far as the players he has faced are concerned, the Belgian international went toe-to-toe with the likes of Lionel Messi, David Silva and Cesc Fabregas during his spell in North London.
Mousa Dembele suggests Kevin De Bruyne is better than Eden Hazard
Considering Mousa Dembele was a technically gifted midfielder, he would have paid special attention to the likes of De Bruyne and Eden Hazard after having played alongside them for Belgium.
Amadou Onana believes De Bruyne was better than Hazard after having playing alongside the pair.
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Mousa Dembele seemed to have suggested the same when asked who the best player he has played with by Rubyn Singh Gill on TikTok, as he claimed: “I played with players like Kevin De Bruyne, Hazard, Harry Kane and even more good players.”
“I think Kevin was [the best], even Harry Kane. I loved Harry as well. Different players they all had their charm and their quality so it’s difficult to compare Kevin with Harry. But they’re crazy players.”
Eden Hazard called Kevin De Bruyne the best player in the world
Statistically, both Belgian icons were outstanding as well.
ALL-TIME STATS KEVIN DE BRUYNE EDEN HAZARD
APPEARANCES 762 749
GOALS 184 200
ASSISTS 303 189
GOAL CONTRIBUTIONS 487 389
However, purely judging by the numbers, Mousa Dembele would be fair in siding with De Bruyne as the better player than Eden Hazard.
The former Manchester City midfielder registered 487 goal contributions while Hazard, despite being a winger registered 98 less (389) in comparison in just 13 games less.
Eden Hazard is a big fan of De Bruyne and ahead of Euro 2024, the Chelsea great named his countryman as the best player in the world.
“I think they have a great chance, they have the best player in the world, so let’s see, to win something, sometimes, you need a bit of luck with injuries and this and that, so they have great chance, they are good.”
“Of course, he’s the captain, to have him in the team is a bonus.”
Hazard concluded: “I think everyone saw it for the last three years, I don’t even need to say it that he’s special, especially in [the] Premier League, he shows to the world his class. He can make everything, every pass, he can see everything quicker than anyone, faster than anyone, that’s why he’s special.”