Chelsea fans have seen some incredible players light up Stamford Bridge over the years — and few shone brighter than Frank Lampard. Now, former England defender Micah Richards has claimed that if the legendary midfielder were still playing today, he’d be hailed as the best in the world in his position.
It’s a bold statement — but one that’s hard to argue with.
A Chelsea Icon Ahead of His Time
Signed from West Ham for just £11 million back in 2001, Lampard went on to define an era at Chelsea. Over 648 appearances, he smashed home 211 goals, becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer — a record that still stands today.
His incredible consistency, intelligence, and timing made him the gold standard for goalscoring midfielders long before “data” and “xG” became part of football’s language.
Speaking on The Rest Is Footballpodcast, Richards didn’t hold back in his praise:
“If Lampard was playing now, everyone would be saying he’s the best midfielder in world football.
Everyone was like, ‘oh, he just gets tap-ins.’ But now with all the talk about turnovers, pockets of space, transitions — people would be going wild for him. He was so intelligent with his runs into the box.”
Richards’ comments have struck a chord with fans who remember Lampard’s mastery of arriving late into the box — that perfect blend of timing and composure that modern analytics would celebrate endlessly.
A Leader in His Own Way
Lampard wasn’t just a goalscorer — he was a leader. WhileJohn Terrywas the vocal enforcer at the back, John Obi Mikel has previously described Lampard as the quiet leader who led by example every single day.
He was the ultimate professional — a player who demanded high standards from himself and everyone around him. That mentality became part of Chelsea’s DNA during their trophy-laden years under Mourinho, Ancelotti, and beyond.
Enzo Fernandez Following in Lampard’s Footsteps
Fast-forward to the present, and Enzo Fernandez looks like the man most capable of carrying Lampard’s legacy forward in Maresca’s midfield.
The 24-year-old Argentine has started adding more goals to his game — three already this season after scoring nine in all competitions last term. His willingness to make those late surges into the box feels very Lampard-esque.
Micah Richards even noted the improvement: Fernandez is starting to find those same “pockets” that made Lampard so deadly.
While no one’s expecting Enzo to reach the legendary heights of Super Frank, his evolution shows that the lessons of Chelsea’s past are still shaping the club’s future.
The Blueprint Lives On
Football may have changed, but Lampard’s game would translate seamlessly into the modern era. The late runs. The composure. The intelligence. The sheer drive to score from midfield.
Richards is right — if Lampard was playing today, he’d be the talk of the footballing world.
And as Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez continue to rise, there’s no doubt both could do far worse than study the example of Chelsea’s greatest-ever midfielder — Super Frank.
