FRANK JAMES LAMPARD. It’s been one of the few names that have been synonymous with footballing greatness, for the past decade and half. Hardly anyone would have guessed that the 22-year-old player signed by Chelsea from his boyhood club West Ham United would go on to be the all-time top scorer for the Blues. So, when the former Chelsea and England midfielder announced his decision to retire from professional football on 2nd February, the footballing fraternity realized with heavy heart that the era of the consummate midfield trio of Paul Scholes – Steven Gerrard – Frank Lampard has finally come to an end. As the whole world pays tribute to arguably the greatest player to wear the Chelsea shirt, here’s a look at the cream of the goals that Super Frankie Lampard, being a midfielder, scored in his glittering 21-year-old career:

vs Barcelona, October 2006:

Chelsea were facing a tough challenge right at the start of the Champions League as they traveled to the Nou Camp to take on the the mighty Barcelona. With the Blues trailing behind with a 2-1 deficit in the 52nd minute, Lampard successfully outsmarted Barcelona’s offside trap, but failed to control a pass delivered by Claude Makelele, going as far as the touchline. The Catalan faithful, who must have heaved a sigh of relief momentarily, were stunned emphatically by the Chelsea midfielder, as he spun instinctively and cleverly chipped the ball from a seemingly impossible angle over Victor Valdes to level the game for his team. Watch the goal here:

vs Brazil, February 2013:

Not only was Lampard’s game unparalleled for his club, he was just as good, if not better, for his country. His goal against Brazil in a friendly match in 2013 is one of his best for England. As the Englishmen flooded around the the Brazilian goal, Lampard showed the level of his skill, as he pounced on a ball from Wayne Rooney at the edge of the box and sent it curling in to the net, off the post, rendering the goalkeeper’s dive useless. Watch the goal here:

vs Ipswich Town, Stamford Bridge, January 2009:

This Fourth Round of the F.A Cup clash between Chelsea and Ipswich Town saw Lampard, who has been notoriously known for scoring outrageous out-of-the-box goals throughout his career , scored one of the best freekicks ever. From a distance of about 30 yards and towards the far right of the pitch at a difficult angle, most of the players would have sent the freekick towards their team-mates in the box to head in. But Frank Lampard doesn’t come in the bracket of ‘most of the players’. The Chelsea legend took aim and sent a rocket of a shot straight towards the net. It had enough power to get into the top left corner, hitting just under the crossbar. Watch the goal here:

vs Everton, Goodison Park, December 2006:

With Everton looking set to take away the honors in a Premier League match courtesy of a 2-1 lead over Chelsea, Frank Lampard once again did what he had done many times- rising to the occasion. Even though his vision was limited due to a sea of Everton players trying their best to protect their lead, Lampard latched on to a ball by Salomon Kalou, and sent a trademark Lampard-esque strike past the diving Tim Howard from an angle which was theoretically impossible to score from. One of the best goals he ever scored. Watch the goal here:

vs Hull City, KC Stadium, October 2008:

Legends in a particular field are considered great not just because they are among the very best at what they do, but because they can do the complete opposite of what is being expected of them in a particular situation, with equal finesse. Lampard received the ball at the edge of the box on the left hand side and Hull goalkeeper, Boaz Myhill, anticipating him to unleash a characteristic shot, went off his line. Lampard, however, displaying his class, chipped the ball from such distance and in to the right side of net, leaving the keeper as well as the Hull defence completely bamboozled. Arguably his best goal ever, it prompted Chelsea’s then coach Luis Felipe Scolari to say,’It was one of the best goals I have seen in my life.’ Watch the goal here:

