• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Steven Gerrard once claimed Liverpool flop was 'better' than Lionel Messi and his comments have aged terribly

Home> Football> Football News> Liverpool

Updated 17:27 3 Oct 2024 GMT+1Published 15:51 3 Oct 2024 GMT+1

Steven Gerrard once claimed Liverpool flop was 'better' than Lionel Messi and his comments have aged terribly

Gerrard made the claims in a 2010 interview.

Chris Byfield

Chris Byfield

Featured Image Credit: Getty / YouTube/BBC

Topics: Steven Gerrard, Liverpool, Football, Lionel Messi, Barcelona

Chris Byfield
Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Steven Gerrard once claimed a former Liverpool player was better than Lionel Messi - but his comments didn't age well.

Gerrard spent the vast majority of his playing career at Liverpool between 1998 and 2015, and won the Champions League in 2005.

He also collected 114 caps for England, scoring 21 goals, and captained the side at three major tournaments concluding with the 2014 World Cup.

Advert

All that means that Gerrard has played with or against some of the world's top players of those era - meaning he knows a good player when he sees one.

But on one occasion, the Liverpool icon missed the mark.

In 2010, he claimed that Messi, who was then already a one-time - soon-to-be two later that year - Ballon d'Or winner, wasn't as good as one of his Liverpool team-mates.

Advert

Gerrard claimed that Joe Cole, who had recently signed for the Reds on a free transfer, could do anything that Messi could on the pitch.

He told the BBC's Match of the Day magazine (quotes via The Guardian): "Messi can do some amazing things, but anything he can do, Joe can do as well, if not better.

"He used to shock us in training by doing footy tricks with a golf ball that most players can't even do with a football. I really fancy Joe for the [Player of the Year] award this year."

While Cole was one of the finest wingers of his era in the Premier League, he did not enjoy a successful time at Liverpool.

Advert

Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole pictured -
Getty

Nor did he win the Premier League Player of the Year award, following a 2010/11 campaign which saw him score twice in 20 league appearances.

He was subsequently loaned out to Lille during the 2011/12 season, before joining West Ham in 2013.

Messi, meanwhile, scored 53 goals in all competitions during the 2010/11 season, and went on to win his second Ballon d'Or award months after Gerrard's comments.

Advert

He also won the La Liga, the Spanish Super Cup and the Champions League, with Barca defeating Manchester United 3-1 in that year's Champions League final at Wembley.

  • Major update in Real Madrid's bid to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold and it could change everything for Liverpool
  • Steven Gerrard claimed Liverpool flop was better than Lionel Messi, his quotes have aged very badly
  • Lionel Messi admits Barcelona players 'hated' Premier League club more than Real Madrid
  • Steven Gerrard once claimed Liverpool flop was better than Lionel Messi, his quotes haven’t aged well

Choose your content:

12 mins ago
an hour ago
  • Premier LeaguePremier League
    12 mins ago

    Man Utd fans name one player that will cost Ruben Amorim his job despite win vs Burnley

    Manchester United were in action against Burnley in the Premier League.

    Football
  • GettyGetty
    an hour ago

    Jamie Carragher publicly responds to Liverpool fan who claims he 'hates' current player

    Ex-Liverpool man Jamie Carragher has responded to a fan.

    Football
  • Getty ImagesGetty Images
    an hour ago

    Nicolas Jackson transfer takes dramatic twist minutes after landing in Germany for Bayern Munich move

    Jackson was all set to join Bayern.

    Football
  • Getty ImagesGetty Images
    an hour ago

    Rasmus Hojlund agrees to unexpected Napoli contract clause after agreeing to leave Man Utd

    Rasmus Hojlund has reportedly got a massive surprise in his contract with Napoli after agreeing to leave Man Utd

    Football