Steven Gerrard’s Bizarre Claim: A Former Liverpool Star was Better Than Lionel Messi
Former Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard once made a claim that raised a few eyebrows – that a former team-mate was better than Lionel Messi. The midfielder spent the majority of his career at Anfield between 1998 and 2015, winning the Champions League in 2005. He also captained the English national team at three major tournaments.
In 2010, Gerrard told the BBC’s Match of the Day magazine that Joe Cole, who had recently signed for the Reds on a free transfer, could do anything Messi could on the pitch. Gerrard claimed that Cole, who was a winger known for his skills and vision, could match Messi’s incredible abilities. However, this statement has not aged well.
Joe Cole did not have a successful stint at Liverpool, struggling with injuries and only managing 15 goals in 66 appearances. Meanwhile, Messi was dominating the sport, winning his first Ballon d’Or award that year and going on to win numerous accolades.
In the 2010/11 season, Messi scored an astonishing 53 goals in all competitions, leading Barcelona to multiple titles. Gerrard, on the other hand, struggled to make an impact at Liverpool, scoring just twice in 20 league appearances. He was eventually loaned out to Lille and later joined West Ham.
It’s difficult to understand why Gerrard would make such a claim, especially considering the exceptional talents of Messi at the time. Perhaps Gerrard was trying to big up his team-mate or perhaps he was genuinely blinded by Cole’s early form. Whatever the reason, this statement has become a notable footnote in the career of the Liverpool icon.
So, what can we take away from this incident? Firstly, even the most experienced and skilled players can make mistakes. Secondly, it’s crucial to be objective and accurate when assessing the abilities of other players. Lastly, Lionel Messi is still the GOAT, and there’s no denying it.
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