LONDON -- Eden Hazard has a "big opportunity" to prove he is one of the world's best players this season but must be "decisive" for Chelsea more often to reach the level of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, according to Antonio Conte.
Chelsea face title rivals Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and Hazard is set to make his first Premier League start of the season, three days after producing a spectacular performance in Wednesday's comeback victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
Conte believes Europe's elite club competition provides the ideal stage for Hazard to remind the world of his quality after a three-month layoff with a broken ankle, but says the Belgian has more improving to do if he wants to enter the Ballon d'Or conversation.
"Eden for sure is a top player," Conte said of Hazard. "I think in this season he has a big opportunity because, this season, we can play in the Champions League.
"I think the Champions League, together with the Premier League, is important for a player to show you are a top player and can compete to be the best.
"Now I'm pleased because, after a bad injury, now he's fit. He's in good form. His season is starting. I think this season started for him with a big game against Atletico Madrid, and now he has to show that he deserves to stay at the top with the best."
Hazard has at times been accused of lacking the relentless drive that has propelled Messi and Ronaldo to the very top of the sport, as well as the pantheon of all-time greats.
And while Conte was impressed by the Belgian's attitude during his lengthy period on the sidelines, he is inclined to agree.
"I'm seeing great determination [from him], above all when he started to train again with us after a bad injury, after a surgery," Conte added. "He understood that he needed to work very strong to recover very well.
"Also because we have good competition in our squad, with Pedro and Willian and Cesc [Fabregas when he] is playing as a No. 10. I think this good competition is very important also, for him.
"He has a style to improve in this specific situation. I think that, sometimes, Eden is ... If he scores one goal, he's happy and then, if there is another situation, he prefers to make an assist rather than scoring twice.
"I see, for Ronaldo, that if he scores once he wants two, three, four. It's the same for Messi. Yes, he can improve."
Conte does not accept, however, that adopting a more ruthless attitude on the pitch would make Hazard less of a team player.
"I don't think 'selfish' is the right word," he insisted. "I don't like selfish players, honestly. I like players who are used to thinking about the team. Used to thinking about 'us' not 'me.'
"Eden is not selfish. He's a player who loves to play football and enjoys playing football. I like this behaviour, his attitude. But, for sure, I like to repeat to him that in every game he must be decisive.
"I ask this of him because a player with his talent, it's important as a coach to ask him to be decisive every game. If God gives you this talent, you must exploit this talent.
"My task is sometimes to try and push him to be decisive in every moment, in every game, and also his teammates wait for this."