### **Deal Done: Steven Gerrard’s Bold Claim About a Liverpool Flop That Hasn’t Aged Well**
In the world of football, opinions can quickly become the stuff of legend—especially when they come from a player with the pedigree of Steven Gerrard. However, sometimes, even the most respected figures in the game can make comments that, in hindsight, appear remarkably misguided.
Such is the case with Gerrard’s once-controversial claim that a Liverpool flop was “better” than none other than Lionel Messi. Fast forward to today, and this comment hasn’t aged well—far from it. So, let’s delve into this curious statement, who Gerrard was referring to, and how it all unfolded in a way no one could have predicted.
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### **The Claim: A Liverpool Flop ‘Better’ Than Messi?**
The claim in question was made by Gerrard back in 2014. At the time, the Liverpool captain spoke highly of his then-teammate, **Luis Alberto**, a Spanish midfielder who had joined the club under Brendan Rodgers’ reign. In a now-infamous interview, Gerrard described Alberto as a “better” player than Lionel Messi, suggesting that he had more technical ability and vision than the Argentine maestro.
“I honestly think that Luis Alberto is a more talented player than Messi,” Gerrard was quoted as saying. “In training, the things he can do with the ball are unbelievable. He’s better than Messi, technically speaking. His first touch, his passing range, and his creativity are second to none. If he can apply that in a match, he could be one of the best.”
At the time, such a statement raised eyebrows, but the footballing world was willing to give Gerrard the benefit of the doubt. After all, this was one of England’s greatest ever midfielders speaking about a teammate who was still finding his feet in one of Europe’s most competitive leagues. Could there have been some truth to his words?
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### **Luis Alberto’s Liverpool Struggles**
Luis Alberto was one of several signings that summer as Brendan Rodgers looked to build a squad capable of challenging for the Premier League title. The Spaniard arrived from Sevilla for a reported £6.8 million, full of promise and potential. However, his time at Liverpool was underwhelming, to say the least.
In his two seasons at Anfield (2013–2015), Luis Alberto made just 12 Premier League appearances, scoring only once. His inability to secure a regular starting spot under Rodgers was indicative of his struggles to adapt to the fast-paced nature of English football. He was loaned out to Malaga, then later to Deportivo La Coruña, where he showed some glimpses of his talent but never truly managed to recapture the promise that had earned him his move to Liverpool in the first place.
While it was clear that Alberto had technical skills, including impressive dribbling and vision, his lack of consistency, work rate, and physicality in the Premier League meant he never reached the heights Gerrard had hoped for.
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### **Messi: A Living Legend**
Contrast this with the career of Lionel Messi during the same period. In 2014, Messi was already in the midst of one of the most illustrious careers in football history. The Argentine had won four Ballon d’Or awards by that time, and his incredible dribbling, vision, passing, and finishing were the envy of every player in the world. By 2014, Messi was Barcelona’s all-time top scorer, having led the club to multiple La Liga titles, UEFA Champions League victories, and individual accolades.
Despite a few criticisms and comparisons to other players during his career (as all footballing greats endure), Messi’s brilliance on the pitch was universally acknowledged. His status as one of the greatest players ever was already firmly cemented.
In short, Messi was—and still is—a player whose accomplishments and football IQ transcend any one era. Comparisons to him are always going to be a tough ask, even for the most technically gifted players. To suggest that Luis Alberto, a player who barely made a mark in Liverpool’s first team, was *better* than Messi was, in retrospect, an incredibly bold and misguided statement.
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### **Why the Comment Hasn’t Aged Well**
So, why hasn’t Gerrard’s comment aged well?
1. **Luis Alberto’s Career Trajectory**: After leaving Liverpool, Alberto did go on to enjoy a solid career, particularly with Lazio in Serie A, where he established himself as a key playmaker. However, his career never came close to reaching the heights of Messi, who went on to win multiple Ballon d’Ors, Champions League titles, and set records that few could have imagined.
2. **Messi’s Continued Dominance**: In the years that followed, Messi continued to prove his unparalleled greatness, leaving no doubt that he is, arguably, the greatest player to ever play the game. His success with Barcelona, followed by his triumph with Argentina in the 2022 World Cup, further solidified his place in footballing history. The claim that Alberto was “better” than Messi now seems almost laughable given the Argentine’s sustained brilliance.
3. **The Nature of Footballing Opinions**: Football is a game of opinions, and in the heat of the moment, passionate figures like Gerrard often make bold statements. But hindsight shows that even the most experienced football minds sometimes overestimate potential or misread a player’s future. Gerrard’s comments, though well-intentioned, now serve as a reminder that footballing judgment can sometimes be clouded by a player’s immediate environment or a fleeting moment of brilliance in training.
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### **Gerrard’s Reputation Unscathed**
It’s important to note that Steven Gerrard’s overall legacy is untouched by his comment about Luis Alberto. As one of Liverpool’s greatest-ever players and a legend of the English game, Gerrard is widely respected for his insight into the game and his leadership both on and off the pitch. His comment about Alberto, however, is just one of those rare instances where his judgment didn’t quite hit the mark.
Gerrard’s career as a player remains one of the finest in the history of English football. And while this particular comment about Luis Alberto hasn’t aged well, it’s a small blip in an otherwise exemplary career. After all, even the best players sometimes miss when making predictions or giving assessments.
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### **Conclusion**
Steven Gerrard’s claim that Luis Alberto was “better” than Lionel Messi is one of those footballing quotes that has become a part of the game’s rich tapestry of memorable, sometimes regrettable statements. In the end, it serves as a reminder that opinions in football can be fleeting, and that even the most respected figures in the game can occasionally miss the mark.
While Alberto may have had technical ability, his career trajectory was nowhere near Messi’s—who continues to redefine the boundaries of greatness in the sport. Gerrard’s comment, though made with the best of intentions, has become a talking point, especially in hindsight. But it’s a minor blip in the vast ocean of football history, and as for Gerrard himself, his legacy remains firmly intact.
As for Luis Alberto, despite the bold claim, he will likely always be remembered as one of the more enigmatic Liverpool flops, never quite living up to the hype. And Messi? Well, his legacy continues to grow with every passing year.
