After Kylian Mbappe’s match winning display against Argentina, many felt the Golden Ball award was sown up. The teenager’s performance in the 4-3 win was memorable to say the least, with Mbappe drawing plaudits left, right and centre, and understandably so. The 19-year-old was unstoppable as he cut through the Argentina backline like a hot knife through butter. While he couldn’t follow it with such a display against Uruguay – the Celeste do have one of the meanest defences in the game, courtesy of club mates Jose Gimenez and Diego Godin – there is a growing sensation that the individual accolade is now Mbappe’s to lose.
However, while he faltered in Friday’s early game, the evening kick off saw another gunning for the award impress on the international stage. Much was made of Roberto Martinez’s decision to start Romelu Lukaku from the right and Kevin De Bruyne through the middle in Belgium’s 2-1 win over Brazil, not to mention Thibaut Courtois’ exceptional goalkeeping outing, yet the tactical decision and the display between the sticks overshadowed a stunning outing from skipper Eden Hazard. The Chelsea star put in a captain’s performance, and then some.Each semi-final nation has a talismanic star among the favourites for the accolade in the form of Mbappe, Hazard, Harry Kane and Luka Modric, of France, Belgium, England and Croatia, respectively, yet while much was made of Mbappe’s showing against Argentina, the fanfare was little more muted for Hazard’s against Brazil.
Friday’s was arguably Hazard’s best in the tournament so far. Granted, a brace against Tunisia meant Hazard was more effective in front of goal in Belgium’s 5-2 win over the African outfit, but the 27-year-old’s display against the pre-tournament favourites was arguably the better considering the quality of opposition in the quarter-final meeting. While Hazard didn’t score nor provide an assist, the Brazil defence were left bewildered in their attempts to keep the Chelsea star at bay.
No player has made more successful dribbles in a World Cup match than Hazard managed vs Brazil (9), while the Belgian sensation was fouled seven times on the night, as per WhoScored.com. He’s one of only four players to score and assist more than once for both, while only Isco and Lionel Messi (both 23) have completed more dribbles than the wing-wizard (22). Opponents take to any means necessary to limit his impact, with Hazard fouled 21 times after four outings at the World Cup, that second only to Neymar (26), and his ability to draw fouls from opponents and put Belgium on the front foot is nothing but a positive.