Chelsea fans were already aware of the quality that Moises Caicedo possessed, however this season supporters of other clubs and pundits are beginning to give him the credit he deserves.
Caicedo has added goals to his game in the opening games of the 2025/26 campaign, scoring four in all competitions including his goal of the season contender against Liverpool.
The debate on many people’s lips has involved who is the better player between Caicedo and Declan Rice, a player who very easily could have ended up at Stamford Bridge himself.
Claude Makelele recently selected Caicedo over Rice, and Gary Lineker is another pundit who is struggling to pick between the two.
Moises Caicedo during Chelsea's win against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Gary Lineker doesn’t want Moises Caicedo being compared to N’golo Kante
He said: “OK, slightly different. I mean, Declan Rice for me at the moment is breathtaking what he’s doing. But so is Caicedo.”
Micah Richards was wowed by his recent performance against Tottenham, even likening his display to Chelsea legend N’golo Kante.
He said: “Did you see Caicedo winning the ball back for the goal against Spurs? He’s like Kante? What’s he doing there?”
Lineker took exception to this though, saying: “Oh, come on, come on. No, you’re getting carried away. No, we can’t go into N’Golo at this moment.”
Despite injuries, Kante helped the Blues to a Premier League trophy in his first season at the club, and was the star performer in the latter stages of the 2021 Champions League.
Chelsea fans will always want to compare their current players to legends of the past. There are frequent discussions involving Cole Palmer’s impact in comparison to Eden Hazard.
Gary Lineker provides punditry during Chelsea FC v Paris Saint-Germain: Final - FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Photo by Michael Regan – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Kante the perfect role model for Caicedo
The Ecuador international has a way to go to reach the accolades Kante helped deliver to the club, however is now beginning to show tendencies of his game on the pitch.
Caicedo grew up idolising Kante, and the impact he made for both Chelsea and Leicester City would see the former Brighton man go down in the history books at Stamford Bridge.
The former Blues midfielder, now playing his football in Saudi Arabia, is enjoying somewhat of a late resurgence in his career. He has been named in the France squad ahead of the upcoming international break.
Chelsea will be praying that there are no issues with Caicedo during his own international travels, with his importance to the current side clear to see.