Lionel Messi has long been the standard for greatness in football, and over the years, several Chelsea players have drawn comparisons to the World Cup winner.
Diego Costa once suggested Eden Hazard had the potential to reach those heights, though his career lost momentum after leaving Stamford Bridge in 2019.
Chelsea supporters are now looking to Estevao Willian as a player who could reach that level. The young Brazilian is already being talked about as a future star of the game.
Estevao’s left foot is already drawing attention, but it was another player with Chelsea links who recently got a surprising nod ahead of Messi for his abilities in that area.
Wilfried Zaha claims Arjen Robben had a better left foot than Lionel Messi
Arjen Robben spent three seasons at Chelsea from 2004 to 2007. While he hadn’t yet reached the peak of his powers, his time at Stamford Bridge is still fondly remembered by many fans.
During a feature on Charlotte FC’s TikTok page, Wilfried Zaha was asked to build his perfect player. When it came to picking the best left foot, he chose Robben over Messi.
Cole Palmer has drawn comparisons to Robben due to their similar styles and strong left foot. However, Palmer has already surpassed Robben’s goal tally and continues climbing up the club’s scoring charts.
Arjen Robben’s quiet impact at Chelsea
Although his best years came at Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, Arjen Robben still left a positive impression during his time in West London.
He played an important role in the team’s title-winning campaign of 2004-05, chipping in with nine goals across all competitions that season.
Robben wrapped up his time at Chelsea with 19 goals from 106 appearances, and while he may not be the first name fans think of from that era, he certainly wasn’t without influence.
The Dutchman later became known for cutting inside from the right to unleash left-footed strikes – something that truly came into its own after he moved on from Stamford Bridge.
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