Lionel Messi has praised Eden Hazard ahead of Wednesday's El Clasico showdown between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Real signed Hazard from Chelsea in the summer, a year on from Cristiano Ronaldo's departure to Juventus.
Asked if Hazard can replace the Portugal superstar, Messi told Marca's Luis F. Rojo: "Hazard has a lot of quality. He is a different football player who can unbalance [defences], but I think he is different to Cristiano, with different characteristics. It is very difficult to replace Cristiano, but Hazard is also a great player.