In 2004, it took him two and half months to score his first goal from open play. People wrote him off then, saying he wasn’t going to work under Jose Mourinho’s style of play. Come the end of the season, he had 19 goals to his name and finished runners-up to Ronaldinho in both the World Player of the Year and European Player of the Year awards.
In 2009, questions were once again raised over his ability to make the starting 11 after yet another poor start to the season. That year, he went on to score 27 goals – more than most strikers, as Chelsea went on to complete the league and cup Double.
This season, his Chelsea career was branded ‘in jeopardy’ after he regularly found himself on the bench, both for club and for country.
But yet, again, Frank Lampard continues to defy all odds and prove every single one of his doubters wrong.
His winner against Spain at Wembley on Saturday night was his 3rd goal in as many games for club and country, and interestingly, his third header in a row.
Lampard already has 6 league goals to his name this season, making him the highest scoring midfielder so far.
Lampard’s genius is hardly noticed and mentioned too often, the main reason being the unerring consistency with which he delivers.
He was adjudged Premier League Player of the Decade according to official stats last year on the basis of information collected by Opta, and rightly so.
The highest scoring midfielder ever in the history of the Premier League, the 33 year-old features in the top 10 in each of the Top goalscorers, Top Appearance Makers and Top Goal Assisters lists.
A unique quality which Lampard possessed is his ability to get better with age. At a time when most players would be contemplating retirement, he continues to improve with every game he plays.
A great player on the pitch, and a thorough gentleman off it, Lampard is never one to get into any kind of serious spats with either the opposition or the referee whilst during a game.
He has been praised by everyone he’s worked with, be it manager or player, with Jose Mourinho branding him “the best professional I have ever worked with.”
Lampard already has 90 international caps to his name, and judging by the current for he’s in, he should hardly face any trouble reaching the 100-mark.
He once said: “There is no better feeling in football than proving people wrong”, and the more people doubt his ability, he better he seems to get.
