Hazard captained Belgium to the World Cup semi-finals last summer and is seen as the talisman of the side at Stamford Bridge.
But days after criticising his Chelsea squad for their lack of desire, Blues boss Sarri singled out his star player with a withering assessment of his character as a player.
Sarri was being grilled over whether Hazard was a player who can lead the side to the standards the Italian boss is demanding of his players.
But he replied: "He is more an individual player than a leader.
"He is very important for us and a great player. He always can win the match in two minutes, sometimes in one minute.
"But at the moment he is not a leader."
The relationship between Hazard and his manager has started to come under scrutiny with the Belgian openly admitting he can frustrate his bosses.
But the decision to undermine the overall character of his best player will raise eyebrows at a time when the club have been trying to get him to commit to a new contract.
Hazard has so far stalled on talks over a £300,000-a-week deal with his existing contact now having less than 18 months to run.
Real Madrid have courted the 28-year-old for the past two years and Hazard has conceded in the past he would love the chance to play for the club he supported as a boy.
The Spanish giants continue to retain a strong interest in signing him on a £14.5million-a-year deal this summer as they look to overhaul their squad which has disappointed in La Liga this season.
Questioning his ability to lead the players is unlikely to be warmly received by the player, at a time when Sarri needs him to deliver on the pitch at a crucial stage of the season.
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