Eden Hazard makes surprise Leandro Trossard claim amid Cristiano Ronaldo comparison

Eden Hazard has admitted that even he was surprised that he started ahead of Leandro Trossard for Belgium at the Qatar World Cup.

The Red Devils had a disappointing tournament in which Hazard started both of their first two group games against Canada and Morocco.

Hazard lost his place to Trossard for Belgium's final group game against Croatia, where new Arsenal signing Trossard was given his first start of the tournament.

Trossard, who notched three assists in the first half of Arsenal's 3-0 win over Fulham on Sunday, had an impressive campaign at Brighton before joining the Gunners and Hazard believes that his compatriot deserved more minutes.

“Not at all,” Hazard told RTBF when asked whether he was hurt that people suggested his time with Belgium was ‘coming to an end’.

“We were talking about the name of Leandro Trossard to replace me, he was having a good season. Even I wondered why I had to play when he had to go on the bench. It’s normal for people to think that.

“Especially after the game against Egypt, where we don’t play a good game, where I don’t play a good game.

“Cristiano Ronaldo did not play the last matches of the World Cup with Portugal, and yet it is Cristiano with Portugal, it is even more than Eden with Belgium.

“It is football, there are young people who grow, who want to take the place. When I started at the age of 16 with Lille, I took the place of Michel Bastos or someone else. Players who were there, in place.

“It’s normal, it’s football.’

Trossard has scored one goal and made four assists since arriving from Brighton in the January transfer window.