Statistics are a mixed bag in football
Some people live and die by them, certain that they hold the key to all knowledge, while others deride them as mostly meaningless without context and not applicable or representative of the game itself.
Sometimes though statistics encapsulate something perfectly. Whether it’s a match, a team or a player, the right statistic can occasionally tell you all you need to know.
That is very much the case with this stat from Belgium’s World Cup quarter-final victory over Brazil on Friday evening and, particularly, Eden Hazard’s performance.
The entire Belgium side were incredibly impressive against Brazil, breaking at pace and regularly cutting open a side which threatened but were ultimately unable to ever really get going.
While Kevin De Bruyne’s stunner stood out to those watching, Hazard’s performance was electric.
The Chelsea forward can flicker hot and cold but here he was utterly scalding, exemplified by the fact that he had a 100 per cent success rate with his take-ons during the game.
That is the most by any player in a World Cup since 1966 and illustrates just how incisive he was against Tite’s team.
Belgium now progress onto the semi-finals of the tournament where they will face France, and the winner will face one of England, Sweden, Croatia and Russia in the final.
Hazard's 10 take-ons were the most by a player with an 100% success-rate in a single #WorldCup game (since 1966).
You're a wizard, Hazard. 🧙 pic.twitter.com/2JlpQlVopX
— Squawka (@Squawka) July 6, 2018
