Ever since moving to Chelsea from Manchester City in the summer of 2023, there are very few players in the Premier League that have the same credentials as Cole Palmer, who has helped guide the west Londoners to glory in the Club World Cup and the Europa Conference League. But that's not where his talent ends.
A potent goalscorer, of course, the Manchester-born star can operate on either wing – primarily on the right – and just behind the striker and has proven, time and time again, to be one of the Premier League's brightest players.
cole palmer chelsea premier league
Moving to west London could well be one of the smartest decisions he and his team have made since he broke through into City's senior team in March 2020. Like many youngsters, he had a whole host of footballing inspirations growing up – but who does the England international believe are the four greatest players of all time?
4 Cristiano Ronaldo
cristiano ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo may have played for the likes of Manchester United and Juventus throughout his career, but his free-scoring, 438-match spell for Real Madrid is the most memorable: he won La Liga twice, the Champions League on four occasions and picked up four of his five Ballon d'Or while residing in the Spanish capital. That, however, was only enough to see him picked fourth by Palmer.
Many consider the goal-getting 40-year-old as the best to have ever graced the turf – and they have every right to think so. A talismanic figure throughout his trophy-packed career, he's managed to score bucketloads of goals for every team he's been a part of.
Initially a world-beating sensation on the flank, the latter stages of the Portuguese talisman's career has seen him become a centre-forward – but many will remember, and smile ear to ear, thinking about the younger version of the Portugal international weaving in and out of defences with his quick feet and eye for goal. Put it this way, Ronaldo was simply unstoppable when at the races.
3 Wayne Rooney
wayne rooney alex ferguson
Born and bred in Manchester, Palmer was surrounded by friends obsessed with the beautiful game – and, as a Manchester United fan, there was a man that caught his attention more than others: Wayne Rooney. Although he was born in Liverpool, the striker-turned-pundit became a hero in Manchester when he moved to Old Trafford in 2004. Trophies and goals (253, to be precise) followed with relative ease.
Notching a debut hat-trick in the Champions League against Fenerbahce (you can relive it below!) was the earliest indicator that he had the minerals to go to the top and what he went onto achieve was unfathomable.
Rooney topped United's all-time goalscoring charts by the time he returned to Everton in 2017, won five Premier League titles and earned himself 120 caps for England. His record as Three Lions top goalscorer was only eclipsed by Harry Kane in March 2023. What a talented, do-it-all centre-forward he was!
2 Neymar Jr
Neymar Jr
What was so captivating about Neymar Jr at the apex of his powers was that he rarely showed a trace of nerves: everything seemed to be under control in the presence of the flair-ridden Brazilian, who is widely regarded as one of the best dribblers in football history. Often overshadowed by the brilliance of Lionel Messi and Ronaldo, he occupies an interesting place in football mythology.
He's certainly possessed the innate ability to be recognised as one of the greatest – but his lack of individual honours, for reasons mentioned above, harms his status. That isn't the case for Palmer, however, who has placed the Santos academy graduate above the likes of Rooney and Ronaldo.
1 Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
By way of declaring his football GOAT, Palmer opted for Lionel Messi's to take the cake – and who can blame him? The daring Argentine, who is spending the swansong of his career in the United States for Inter Miami, completed football in 2022 by winning the World Cup under Lionel Scaloni – but his club career is mightily impressive, too, as he is the record winner of the Ballon d'Or.
Rosario-born Messi has won football's biggest individual prize on eight separate occasions across his glittering career – three more than second-placed Ronaldo – and has put together a compelling case to be remembered as the best ever.
He is, in the eyes of Chelsea's Palmer, who now understands what it takes to occupy the space behind a centre-forward. Previously, he even admitted to idolising the Barcelona great as, upon being given the No.10 shirt at Chelsea, he said: "Messi, the big one, Rooney and players like that. It's just an iconic number."
Watch Cole Palmer's selection process below: