Cesar Azpilicueta backs Eden Hazard for future Ballon d'Or award

Chelsea full-back Cesar Azpilicueta believes that teammate Eden Hazard could one day win FIFA's Ballon d'Or award.

The battle to claim the coveted prize in recent years has predominantly been fought between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but Azpilicueta has backed Hazard to win the trophy at some point in the future.

"Eden is a great player, younger than [Ronaldo and Messi], and therefore has more capacity for improvement," Azpilicueta told Marca.

"I think in the future he could win the Ballon d'Or, he has the quality to it, but I see more focus on titles than achieving individual trophies. But yes, he has great quality and I think in the future we will see with the trophy in his hands."

Hazard's Chelsea side currently occupy top spot in the Premier League standings.