Why Steven Gerrard Is Adrien Rabiot’s GOAT: Liverpool Legend Outshines Messi And Ronaldo For France Star

The ongoing debate over football’s 'Greatest of All Time' (GOAT) has often revolved around modern superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, whose decades-long rivalry has shaped an era. Yet, this week, a surprising new voice weighed in with a different perspective: France international Adrien Rabiot, who has shared a pitch with both icons, declared Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard as his ultimate GOAT—a verdict that echoes through football’s elite.

Having experienced Ronaldo’s relentless drive as a team-mate at Juventus and Messi’s brilliance as his conqueror in the 2022 World Cup final, Rabiot is uniquely placed to make such a call. Yet, as revealed on the France national team’s TikTok page, neither of the two modern titans cracked his top three. Instead, Rabiot’s list read: third, Kaka—whose elegance and collective play made him memorable; second, Zinedine Zidane—France’s own icon who “did extraordinary things”, according to Rabiot; and at number one, Gerrard, who “was able to attack, to defend, had an incredible shot and worked for the collective.”

Such a verdict is no passing fancy. Rabiot’s formative years were spent admiring Gerrard, whom he called “an iconic player for Liverpool in the Premier League”. As a child, he “followed Liverpool as a kid because I was a fan of Steven Gerrard. He made me dream, so I used to follow the Reds,” Rabiot explained to Tuttosport at the end of 2022. Gerrard’s influence nearly saw Rabiot join Liverpool in the summer of 2024, before he ultimately signed for Marseille, where he has made a bright start to the Ligue 1 season with seven goals and three assists across 25 appearances.

This admiration is not unique to Rabiot. Even legendary figures have voiced similar sentiments. Zinedine Zidane, long considered among the greatest midfielders, declared in 2009 that Gerrard “just might be the best in the world. If you don’t have a player like Steven Gerrard, who is the engine room, it can affect the whole team.” Zidane likened Gerrard to Real Madrid’s own unsung heroes, emphasising characteristics of leadership, energy, and professionalism.

Rafa Benitez, who managed Gerrard during Liverpool’s famous Champions League nights, went even further on The Overlap: “He’s the best player I have ever coached…. In terms of a complete player—power, goals, good in the air, both feet, defending, deliveries, energy—he was great from the beginning.”

Why does Gerrard inspire such loyalty and reverence among his peers and coaches, sometimes above flashier names like Messi and Ronaldo? The answer may lie in the embodiment of the all-action, box-to-box midfielder—an archetype rarely matched for both impact and inspiration. While Messi and Ronaldo have redefined statistics and captured silverware galore, Gerrard, for players like Rabiot, represents the heart and soul of a team: a player who elevates those around him and carries a city’s hope each time he steps onto the pitch.

Rabiot’s omission of Messi and Ronaldo in favour of Gerrard reignites the debate about greatness. Is it defined by numbers, or by the intangible force a player brings to those who watch and play with him? As this story shows, legacies are personal, and the players we call 'the greatest' often inspire for reasons that reach far beyond the record books.

Where do you stand in the GOAT debate? Is there room for local icons and all-round midfield generals in an era dominated by star forwards? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation.

• Adrien Rabiot
• Liverpool
• Steven Gerrard