You hear big claims in football all the time.
Like that time Sam Allardyce said he could be managing Real Madrid, when Robbie Savage said he was ‘world class’ or that time Liverpool claimed Brendan Rodgers was the new Jurgen Klopp.
But there’s some bold, bold statements that continue to echo down the ages. Statements so hyperbolic that we just cannot allow them to be forgotten. Ever.
So obviously when former England international Joe Cole joined League One Coventry City, the internet dug up that famous old quote about Cole’s ‘unrivalled talents’.
If you’ve forgotten, let us remind you. Steven Gerrard once claimed Cole was better than Lionel Messi. Yes that’s right, Joe f**king Cole. Just let that sink in for a second.
This was the quote from the former Liverpool captain…
“Messi can do some amazing things, but anything he can do Joe can do as well, if not better.
“He used to shock us in training by doing footy tricks with a golf ball that most players can’t even do with a football.
“I really fancy Joe for the [player of the year] award this season.”
Obviously the internet just could not allow this opportunity to pass unnoticed.
In 2010 Steven Gerrard said Joe Cole was better than Lionel Messi. Today the same Joe Cole joins Coventry City in the English Championship.
— Invincibles Studio | Download SM24 Now! (@InvncblsGames) October 16, 2015
https://twitter.com/BreatheSport/status/655064390761336832
Coventry sign Joe Cole on loan. The same guy Gerrard compared to Messi. How much did Hodgson give him a week?!
— – (@Coppin_LFC) October 16, 2015
Remember when Gerrard said Joe Cole was as good as Messi? pic.twitter.com/YlRP4O5Ful
— BlueMoonRising (@BMRising) October 16, 2015
Joe Cole to Coventry on loan is being rumoured… It's as close to Messi as we will get!
— Jai Pannum (@jai_pannum) October 16, 2015
https://twitter.com/Waqartx786/status/655121502820503552
I remember when Joe Cole was "as good as, if not better" than Messi. Not sure if that means Lionel will end up at Coventry or..
— niran (@TheOfficialFNG) October 16, 2015