There was no room for Lionel Messi as this France star named his top three players of all time, but there was for Steven Gerrard having grown up watching his magic for Liverpool
Adrien Rabiot and France were defeated by Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final(Image: Phil Harris/Daily Mirror)
Lionel Messi was a surprise omission as Adrien Rabiot named Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard as his favourite footballer of all time. It’s now widely believed Messi is the greatest player of his generation.
His enduring battle with Cristiano Ronaldo for that crown was, in the eyes of many, put to bed by Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph – although the Portugal captain looks set for one more crack at winning the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer.
However, France star Rabiot, who played with Ronaldo at Juventus, picked neither him nor Messi in the top three for the GOAT debate. And it’s Gerrard who comes out on top for the 30-year-old, who would’ve grown up watching his dominance in the middle of the park at Anfield.
Explaining his ranking on the France national team’s TikTok page, Rabiot said: “Third, Kaka. He was a player that I found very elegant. Able to score, to make others score, to be a player who attacked but was still part of the collective. This is the kind of player that I like.
“[Zinedine] Zidane, obviously, for the same reasons, the same characteristics. And he is French, we grew up with him. It was an iconic French player. He did extraordinary things.
“The player that I really liked a lot was Steven Gerrard, since I was very young. He played his entire career at Liverpool. He was an iconic player for Liverpool in the Premier League.
“He was able to attack, to defend, had an incredible shot, scored a lot of goals and he was also a player who worked for the collective, who put his team first. This is the type of player and character that I like.”
Steven Gerrard is Rabiot’s favourite player of all time(Image: Getty Images)
Ronaldo was also snubbed in favour of Gerrard by former Reds boss Rafa Benitez when asked to name the best player he’s coached. Speaking on The Overlap last year, Benitez said: “I’ve said it before, he’s the best player I have ever coached.
“He was very good and at the beginning when we were knowing each other. In terms of a complete player. Stevie has the power, he could score goals, good in the air, both feet.
“He could shoot from distance, short, deliveries, defending, he has energy, he trained well, a good professional. He was great from the beginning.”
Rabiot joined Marseille last summer after being linked with Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Rabiot, meanwhile, could’ve lived out his childhood dream of following in Gerrard’s footsteps last summer as he was linked with a move to Merseyside. He was a free agent after his contract with Juventus expired.
“I followed Liverpool as a kid because I was a fan of Steven Gerrard,” he told Tuttosport at the end of 2022 (via Football Italia). “He made me dream, so I used to follow the Reds.”
However, he instead ended up signing for Ligue 1 side Marseille in the summer. He’s made 25 appearances in all competitions, scoring seven goals and providing three assists.