Frank Lampard: Captain, Leader, Legend

The number of goals isn’t particularly important, though it is an astonishing tally for a central midfielder.

As his detractors point out, he scores a lot of penalties - 39 in the Premier League alone for Chelsea (though that never seems important when talking about Alan Shearer, Ruud van Nistelrooy or other great goalscorers).

What the tally does show is Lampard’s sheer consistency. This is his 10th consecutive season with 10 or more Premier League goals. Do you know how many other players have done that? None.

Just for the sake of comparison, do you know how many times Steven Gerrard has hit double figures in league goals? Three times. Paul Scholes? Twice.

That doesn’t automatically make Lampard a better player, but it does indicate he has maintained an exceptional performance level in a way that the other two have not.

In a decade of turbulent upheaval (good and bad) for Chelsea, he more than anyone has been the constant; the steadying hand, the man to which the team turned in times of adversity.

Of course Didier Drogba, Petr Cech and other players have made defining contributions. But Lampard is the rock on which Chelsea’s success has been built. He is Chelsea’s true captain. Their totem.

And you can realise that having a strong personality doesn’t preclude self-awareness or a sense of when to take a step back. 

Lampard might not be the alpha male in the Chelsea squad, but he is their leader in every meaningful sense (other than JT of course). 

In the 2008 Champions League final, Lampard scored in normal time and again in the penalty shootout. 

In the 2012 Champions League, Lampard played superbly in adversity and again scored in the shootout. Terry watched, a victim of his own mistake in the semi-final.

By the time he is done at Stamford Bridge, Frank Lampard will be remembered as the greatest goalscorer in Chelsea history.

In another, fairer universe, he would also be remembered as their greatest captain.