Eden Hazard Reveals Why He Never Wanted Cristiano Ronaldo’s Iconic No.7 Shirt At Real Madrid

 

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Eden Hazard in a Real Madrid jersey during a La Liga match at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Former Real Madrid star Eden Hazard has finally opened up about one of the biggest talking points surrounding his blockbuster move to Spain — inheriting Cristiano Ronaldo’s legendary No.7 shirt.

The Belgian playmaker has revealed that he never actually wanted the iconic jersey in the first place and instead hoped to wear Luka Modric’s famous No.10 shirt at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Hazard arrived at Real Madrid from Chelsea in 2019 for a massive €100 million transfer fee, just one year after Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure to Juventus. From the moment he arrived, fans and media immediately placed enormous expectations on his shoulders, viewing him as the man destined to replace one of football’s greatest-ever players.

But according to Hazard, those comparisons never made sense.

Speaking to Canal Plus, the former Belgium captain explained that he never saw himself as Ronaldo’s replacement because their styles of play were completely different.

“Succeeding Cristiano at Real Madrid wasn’t a burden because, in my opinion, I wasn’t there to replace him,” Hazard said. “It’s the media who say he’s going to replace Ronaldo. I have a completely different style of play than him.”

Hazard admitted he could never realistically replicate Ronaldo’s unbelievable goal-scoring numbers, which regularly saw the Portuguese superstar score 60 or even 70 goals in a single season.

“I couldn’t score 60 or 70 goals a year,” Hazard confessed. “Throughout my entire career, I barely scored that many.”

The revelation gives fans fresh insight into the enormous pressure Hazard faced from the moment he landed in Madrid. While Ronaldo built his reputation on relentless goals, physical dominance, and record-breaking statistics, Hazard was always known more for creativity, dribbling, flair, and playmaking brilliance.

In perhaps the most surprising revelation, Hazard disclosed that he actually wanted Luka Modric’s No.10 shirt instead of Ronaldo’s iconic No.7.

“I didn’t want number 7,” Hazard admitted. “I wanted Luka Modric’s number 10. I thought he was going to say okay, take it, but he didn’t give it to me.”

Unfortunately for Hazard, his dream move to Madrid never truly worked out. Injuries, fitness struggles, and inconsistent performances prevented the Belgian magician from reaching anywhere near the heights he achieved at Chelsea, where he established himself as one of the Premier League’s most electrifying players.

Despite flashes of brilliance, Hazard’s four-year spell at Real Madrid is widely viewed as one of the most disappointing high-profile transfers in modern football history.

Still, his latest comments highlight just how difficult it was to follow in the footsteps of a player like Cristiano Ronaldo — a challenge that may simply have been impossible for anyone.

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