Since Gerrard's status as one of the greatest midfielders in the world has come into question of late, I felt it would be fair to have a close examination of just how good he is, and just how good he HAS been. We are, remember, talking about the fellow of whom Zidane said, as recently as 2009: "Is he the best in the world? He might not get the attention of Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo but yes, I think he might be...."

So, why did Zizou say that? Well, it was because Gerrard scored twice in a 4-0 romp over Real Madrid, to win 5-0 on aggregate. Luis Suarez was trying to cement his place in Ajax's first team, around that time.

Who was playing in that game? Well, Madrid had the likes of Casillas, Cannavaro, Pepe, Heinze, Robben, Sneijder, Raul and Higuain. Quite the interesting look in hindsight, eh? Liverpool had the likes of Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Torres, and Steven Gerrard.

Where are some of these players now? History is fun to observe.

But anyway, the reason Zidane picked out Gerrard is because of Gerrard's completeness. After all, it's not every player, even amongst the greats, who can literally claim to be excellent at pretty much everything, in the way that Gerrard can. This is, let's remember, a player who is known for not only his sublime rocket goals from 30 yards out, but also his exquisite long-range passing, his precise tackling, his awareness and reading of the game, his technique, his vision, and perhaps most of all his leadership.

Gerrard had all of these things, in spades. He's that classy an act. Pirlo cannot do everything Gerrard does. Xavi cannot do everything Gerrard does. Iniesta cannot do it either, nor can Busquets, Alonso, Schweinsteiger, or any of the other names one would like to throw into the ring as the top midfielders in the world. It's true that many of them can do things that Gerrard cannot, but none of them cover such a range of skills and value to the team that this man from the city of Liverpool can do.

His two goals against Madrid were mere parts of his amazing display that night against the (then) 9-times European champions, with his finish for the 2nd easily the goal of the game, and only Iker Casillas preventing him from later scoring what would have been the goal of the year. Liverpool were on fire, and many people had credited this to Fernando Torres, so why did Zizou not lavish this speculation about the best in the world upon El Nino instead?

Because it was Gerrard who was the heartbeat of that side, as he has always been. It was Gerrard who excelled most, of any of the names on that pitch, as he so often did. In that match, as in so many others against the very cream of the world's footballers, it was Gerrard who stood tallest above them all. Here's some video to attest to that:

People like Zizou understand this. Players like Zizou admire it more than anything. I challenge anyone here to argue against him.

But, was that the only time that Gerrard deserved such praise, or had stood so tall above the world's best?

Well, no.

It was Gerrard who won the Champions League, in 2005, not just for his leadership and goal in the final (of which he was named Man of the Match, incidentally). It was Gerrard who scored the crucial late goal against Olympiakos in the Group stage, where Liverpool were staring elimination in the face. It was Gerrard who held the midfield against Chelsea (who had beaten Barcelona) in the semis, and yes, it was Gerrard who started the fightback against Milan to win what is considered one of the greatest European Cup finals in history.

This is why Gerrard was named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year, in 2005, above such names as Crepso, Shevchenko, Ronaldinho, Seedorf, Kaka, Zidane, and yes, even Pirlo.

He was that damn good.

This is probably why his Liverpool side knocked out Barcelona, the reigning European champions, in 2007, too. And knocked out Chelsea, again, in 2007 in the semis, and faced Milan, again, in the final. Individually, he 's been busy being the PFA footballer of the year in 2006, scoring the 2006 PL Goal of the Season, being Liverpool's top goalscorer in 2006 (again, as a CM!) and appearing the the Champions League official XI of the Year from 2005-2007 straight. He was also in the FIFPro WORLD XI from 2007-2009.

I repeat: he was that damn good.

But, that was all in the past, right? I mean, Gerrard had a great period from 2004-2010, maybe, but surely he's past it now, right?

Well, again, let's return to Zidane for an opinion. In 2014, Zidane said this:

"He could have played for any team in Europe -- but he turned them down. That sort of loyalty should be rewarded with a title ... England have probably produced the two best midfield players of the last 20 years in Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes ... There was a point when Gerrard was the best midfield player in the world. It is unusual to get complete midfield players who can do everything, but that is what he was."

Seems to me that Zidane feels that period was more than enough to prove the point, and I'm inclined to agree. And as Michael Owen said: "If not for Luis Suarez the Gerrard would have won the PFA Player of the Year", this year, in 2014. Maybe that's because even in his dwindling days, now in DM as a deep playmaker, he managed to get 13 goals and 13 assists in the league, this year.

The ACTUAL PFA Player of the Year Luis Suarez considers him to be the best player he's ever played with. Vincent Kompany, captain of the Premier League champions, considers him the greatest PL player he's ever played against. Now weigh that against the wealth of talent in the league these men are talking about.

Maybe, just maybe, these four gentlemen, who aside from Owen have no reason to be biased towards an Englishman, know what they are talking about. ;) Here's some highlights to judge for yourself:

And here's some from the rest of his career, so your jaw can drop:

Steven Gerrard has every right to be considered one of the greatest midfielders ever, one of the best players in the modern era, and an absolute legend of game. Every bit as much as anyone else you want to subjectively name.

Thank you for the memories, Stevie. If you had not been so loyal to your boyhood club, you might have played for a team who could have showcased your excellence to the point where no-one would doubt it. As it was, we saw a club that has been based around YOUR talent, and YOUR gifts, for the last 10 years, give us some of the most incredible victories and memories of football history.

Bless ya.

Since Gerrard's status as one of the greatest midfielders in the world has come into question of late, I felt it would be fair to have a close examination of just how good he is, and just how good he HAS been. We are, remember, talking about the fellow of whom Zidane said, as recently as 2009: "Is he the best in the world? He might not get the attention of Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo but yes, I think he might be...."

So, why did Zizou say that? Well, it was because Gerrard scored twice in a 4-0 romp over Real Madrid, to win 5-0 on aggregate. Luis Suarez was trying to cement his place in Ajax's first team, around that time.

Who was playing in that game? Well, Madrid had the likes of Casillas, Cannavaro, Pepe, Heinze, Robben, Sneijder, Raul and Higuain. Quite the interesting look in hindsight, eh? Liverpool had the likes of Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Torres, and Steven Gerrard.

Where are some of these players now? History is fun to observe.

But anyway, the reason Zidane picked out Gerrard is because of Gerrard's completeness. After all, it's not every player, even amongst the greats, who can literally claim to be excellent at pretty much everything, in the way that Gerrard can. This is, let's remember, a player who is known for not only his sublime rocket goals from 30 yards out, but also his exquisite long-range passing, his precise tackling, his awareness and reading of the game, his technique, his vision, and perhaps most of all his leadership.

Gerrard had all of these things, in spades. He's that classy an act. Pirlo cannot do everything Gerrard does. Xavi cannot do everything Gerrard does. Iniesta cannot do it either, nor can Busquets, Alonso, Schweinsteiger, or any of the other names one would like to throw into the ring as the top midfielders in the world. It's true that many of them can do things that Gerrard cannot, but none of them cover such a range of skills and value to the team that this man from the city of Liverpool can do.

His two goals against Madrid were mere parts of his amazing display that night against the (then) 9-times European champions, with his finish for the 2nd easily the goal of the game, and only Iker Casillas preventing him from later scoring what would have been the goal of the year. Liverpool were on fire, and many people had credited this to Fernando Torres, so why did Zizou not lavish this speculation about the best in the world upon El Nino instead?

Because it was Gerrard who was the heartbeat of that side, as he has always been. It was Gerrard who excelled most, of any of the names on that pitch, as he so often did. In that match, as in so many others against the very cream of the world's footballers, it was Gerrard who stood tallest above them all. Here's some video to attest to that:

People like Zizou understand this. Players like Zizou admire it more than anything. I challenge anyone here to argue against him.

But, was that the only time that Gerrard deserved such praise, or had stood so tall above the world's best?

Well, no.

It was Gerrard who won the Champions League, in 2005, not just for his leadership and goal in the final (of which he was named Man of the Match, incidentally). It was Gerrard who scored the crucial late goal against Olympiakos in the Group stage, where Liverpool were staring elimination in the face. It was Gerrard who held the midfield against Chelsea (who had beaten Barcelona) in the semis, and yes, it was Gerrard who started the fightback against Milan to win what is considered one of the greatest European Cup finals in history.

This is why Gerrard was named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year, in 2005, above such names as Crepso, Shevchenko, Ronaldinho, Seedorf, Kaka, Zidane, and yes, even Pirlo.

He was that damn good.

This is probably why his Liverpool side knocked out Barcelona, the reigning European champions, in 2007, too. And knocked out Chelsea, again, in 2007 in the semis, and faced Milan, again, in the final. Individually, he 's been busy being the PFA footballer of the year in 2006, scoring the 2006 PL Goal of the Season, being Liverpool's top goalscorer in 2006 (again, as a CM!) and appearing the the Champions League official XI of the Year from 2005-2007 straight. He was also in the FIFPro WORLD XI from 2007-2009.

I repeat: he was that damn good.

But, that was all in the past, right? I mean, Gerrard had a great period from 2004-2010, maybe, but surely he's past it now, right?

Well, again, let's return to Zidane for an opinion. In 2014, Zidane said this:

"He could have played for any team in Europe -- but he turned them down. That sort of loyalty should be rewarded with a title ... England have probably produced the two best midfield players of the last 20 years in Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes ... There was a point when Gerrard was the best midfield player in the world. It is unusual to get complete midfield players who can do everything, but that is what he was."

Seems to me that Zidane feels that period was more than enough to prove the point, and I'm inclined to agree. And as Michael Owen said: "If not for Luis Suarez the Gerrard would have won the PFA Player of the Year", this year, in 2014. Maybe that's because even in his dwindling days, now in DM as a deep playmaker, he managed to get 13 goals and 13 assists in the league, this year.

The ACTUAL PFA Player of the Year Luis Suarez considers him to be the best player he's ever played with. Vincent Kompany, captain of the Premier League champions, considers him the greatest PL player he's ever played against. Now weigh that against the wealth of talent in the league these men are talking about.

Maybe, just maybe, these four gentlemen, who aside from Owen have no reason to be biased towards an Englishman, know what they are talking about. ;) Here's some highlights to judge for yourself:

And here's some from the rest of his career, so your jaw can drop:

Steven Gerrard has every right to be considered one of the greatest midfielders ever, one of the best players in the modern era, and an absolute legend of game. Every bit as much as anyone else you want to subjectively name.

Thank you for the memories, Stevie. If you had not been so loyal to your boyhood club, you might have played for a team who could have showcased your excellence to the point where no-one would doubt it. As it was, we saw a club that has been based around YOUR talent, and YOUR gifts, for the last 10 years, give us some of the most incredible victories and memories of football history.

Bless ya.