Belgium's Eden Hazard "not afraid" of facing Argentina star Lionel Messi

Belgium playmaker Eden Hazard has insisted that he and his teammates are capable of silencing Lionel Messi in their World Cup quarter-final against Argentina on Saturday.

The Barcelona star has been Argentina's standout performer in Brazil, but Hazard holds no fear following Belgium's 2-1 victory over the USA in their last-16 encounter on Tuesday.

"We know the best player in the world is in this team, but we are not afraid," Sky Sports News quotes Hazard as saying.

"We can win. Argentina have done well, but they have one big player who can make the difference every game. If we can stop him, we have a chance, but it will not be easy."

France and Germany will go head to head for a place in the final four, while hosts Brazil take on Colombia and the Netherlands will play Costa Rica in the rest of the quarter-final ties.