Eden Hazard would name himself as the World Cup’s Golden Ball winner after Belgium beat England to third place in the tournament. England slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Belgium on Saturday, with Hazard playing a starring role to ensure his side’s best ever finish at a World Cup. Hazard has been Belgium’s main man in Russia, orchestrating the attack and chipping in with three goals and two assists.
Fifa will name the best player in the tournament after the final between France and Croatia play, and Hazard was asked who he would give the Golden Ball to. He said: ‘I would give that title to me. But I do not get to choose. I think they will give it to someone playing the final.’ It seems Kylian Mbappe and Luka Modric seem set to battle it out for the Golden Ball and it may be handed to whoever finishes on the winning side
Croatia have never reached a World Cup final while France are bidding to win their first since claiming it on home soil in 1998. Modric has inspired Croatia to making history this summer, while Mbappe will be just the third teenager ever to play in a World Cup final. Hazard will now take some well-earned holiday before returning to Chelsea.