Lampard, who joined Chelsea in 2001 after moving from West Ham United, became one of the club’s all-time greats over his 13-year tenure.
Throughout his time with the Blues, he went up against many football legends, including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, and Messi. ..Continue Reading
Yet, when asked about his most challenging opponent from his Chelsea days, he passed over these star names in favor of a surprising choice.
Speaking on The Overlap, Lampard was questioned by his former England teammate Gary Neville about the hardest player he ever played against. Lampard answered confidently, showing no doubt in his response.
“Iniesta,” Lampard quickly replied. “He could go either way on you.
“Not many midfield players who play in that central area wanted to take you on so much.
“They want to pass or could run, I played with great players, Stevie G, physically brilliant, but some of the times he’d open up on you and he could take you either way, it meant you couldn’t get near him.
“Him and Xavi when they played in that team were something else.”
In Lampard’s peak years, Chelsea’s rivalry with Barcelona was fierce, as both clubs were dominant forces in the Champions League.
Although Barcelona featured superstars like Messi, Ronaldinho, and Xavi, it was Iniesta who left the strongest impression on Lampard.
The Spanish midfielder played over 650 matches for Barcelona in his 24-year career, tallying 57 goals and an impressive 135 assists.
During this period, Andres Iniesta won an astounding 32 trophies with the club, including nine La Liga titles and four Champions League championships.
On the international stage, Iniesta earned 131 caps for Spain, scoring 14 goals and providing 30 assists, with the pinnacle of his career being Spain’s 2010 World Cup victory.
In contrast, Lampard made 611 appearances for Chelsea, winning 11 trophies, including three Premier League titles and a Champions League, solidifying his legacy at the club.
