Lionel Messi settled the Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes debate after revealing who he thinks is ‘the greatest ever’ English player.
Messi is the man many fans consider to be the 'GOAT' (greatest of all time) in football. Supporters regularly debate whether the Argentine his rival Cristiano Ronaldo come out on top in the debate but, on this occasion, it was the Argentine's turn to have his say on one of the Premier League’s great debates through his comments on how he deems to be the best English player in history.
In their prime, Gerrard, Lampard and Scholes would have walked into most midfields in Europe and it is a debate that has prompted almost as much discussion as that between Messi and Ronaldo.
And Messi indirectly gave his thoughts on who was the best back in 2016.
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“Personally, I think [Steven] Gerrard is England’s greatest-ever player. I wish him a happy retirement,” said Messi following Gerrard’s decision to hang up his boots eight years ago.
Gerrard left Liverpool in 2015 and then finished his career with a season-long spell at MLS side LA Galaxy.
Like Messi, the former Reds captain was regularly voted into the World Team of the Year and there is a clear mutual respect between the two.
Lampard also had a brief stint in the US between 2015 and 2016 following a season at Manchester City. The Chelsea legend left the Blues in 2014 after a trophy-laden career at Stamford Bridge.
Messi is not the first person to address the debate and certainly won't be the last.
The Argentine's former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola gave his take when speaking to Rio Ferdinand on his podcast.
"All respect to Frank [Lampard], to Steven [Gerrard] but Paul Scholes is my favourite one," Guardiola said in 2023.
"I love it. I think he had everything but the other two, come on, Frank and Steven Gerrard changed this… Paul Scholes is my favourite."
The Argentine has also achieved a feat that both Lampard and Gerrard never did through his collective achievements since moving to the US. Last Sunday, he scored twice in Miami’s victory over Columbus Crew to help clinch the Supporters’ Shield, adding to the Leagues Cup success he helped deliver in August last year.
His 17 goals and 10 assists in 18 MLS games have helped his side shoot up the division following his arrival in July 2023. Messi has already set his sights on the MLS Cup in December as his next piece of silverware, saying: “The first objective has been achieved, and now we have to think about what's next.”
Topics: Lionel Messi, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes
Luke Davies