COMMENT: Give us one. A name. Right now. At this moment. Give us one player who is performing better than Eden Hazard...

Cristiano Ronaldo? He can't buy a goal. Neymar? Antoine Griezmann? Nah. Luka Modric? C'mon, they're already pulling him apart after San Mames yesterday. Leo Messi...? Maybe. At a pinch. You could say he's matching Hazard. But much of that would have to do with the Barcelona captain's reputation more than current form.

Maurizio Sarri is right. When the Chelsea manager says Hazard "is the best", it isn't hyperbole. The Blues No10, after that hat-trick against Cardiff City, is the hottest thing in the game today.

We all thought he'd found another gear in Russia. The World Cup bringing the best out of Hazard. But in the post-match yesterday. In his broken English. Sarri found the words to give meaning to what a lot of us are feeling today.

“I thought he [Hazard] was one of the best players in Europe, but now I change my mind that he is the best," said the Italian. And that's just it. We could see Hazard returning to his best. But none of us could've predicted what we're seeing today.

There's been no World Cup hangover for the Belgian. No bedding down after a shortened preseason. Not even the need for re-adjustment under a new manager. Hazard has been flying. No excuses. No leeway. Instead, he and Sarriball have clicked. And he's now producing the best form of his career.

Piet de Visser, Chelsea's long time transfers adviser, predicted it last month. He'd witnessed Hazard wrest back the mantle of being his nation's most important player. No-one was talking about Kevin de Bruyne after that third-place playoff win against England. As fine a World Cup the Manchester City man turned in, it was Hazard who dominated the Rode Duivels' campaign.

On the back that tournament, De Visser declared: "Eden is simply better than Neymar.

"It is clear that Eden is physically stronger, but Neymar does get more kicks, but that is because Hazard uses his body much better.

"But the big difference is in the dribbles: Neymar really is not a better dribbler than Hazard."

And even putting his two discoveries side-by-side, De Visser could no longer claim De Bruyne the superior talent: "I think they are very well matched and now I put them side by side, but do not forget that De Bruyne is six years younger."

So why has it clicked? What is in the essence of Sarrismo that Hazard has embraced so readily?

Again, back to yesterday, Sarri offered us a hint when discussing his pre-match instructions: “I think Hazard can improve more.

"I think that he can spend less energy than now at 50 or 60 metres to the opposition's goal.

"When we have the ball in our half and he touches the ball five or six times, it shows he spends a lot of energy and can have more energy in the last 25 metres."

Get yourself forward. Conserve your energy. Let others do the donkey work. When it comes to Hazard and Chelsea's managers, Sarri has flipped the map.

Where Jose Mourinho demanded more from him off the ball. Sarri has told Hazard to save his legs. Where Antonio Conte bludgeoned Hazard into a set role. Sarri has told him to roam free. This season, it's not about what Hazard can do for the team, but what the team can do for Hazard.

Again, De Visser: "You have to give him freedom. And no pressure. Then Eden is at his best. Mourinho is a pure winner, who wanted to make Eden even better. When he is already at his best, just keep him that way. But Mourinho wanted him to always pull the cart, to always score, be even more decisive. That pressure became much too great for Eden."

Sarri doesn't want Hazard busting his lungs when Chelsea don't have the ball. That's for the midfield behind him. N'Golo Kante, Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic. Three players all capable of getting their foot in. Winning a tackle. For Sarri, that should be enough. The platform. The security. All built to give Hazard the licence to stay upfield. The freedom to do what he does best in the most threatening areas of the pitch. And to do it with a snap and skip to his game that you only see from players enjoying themselves.

This is no fluke. Sarri has found a way for Hazard to drive his team forward, without carrying it on his shoulders. He's managed to get more from Hazard by cutting his responsibilities. And it's working.

Stamford Bridge, London stadium, Anfield or St Mary's. Over the next month, if you can get a ticket - grab one. You'll be witnessing the best player - on-form - in the world today.