Phil Foden did something no English player has since Steven Gerrard during Manchester City’s 3-3 draw against Real Madrid.
Such are the names Foden is putting himself in conversations with through the strength of his performances this season.
After all, Steven Gerrard is one of the best midfielders of his generation and is universally viewed as an all-time great.
Of course, the Manchester City midfielder has plenty of time left in the game before he is talked about in such terms.
In all fairness, not many 23-year-old players to have ever played the game are regarded as legends at such a young age.
City’s number 47, like most players, is expected to truly hit his prime by the time he turns 26.
However, the way Foden is going, the expectation is that once he retires, his name will be mentioned in the same breath as Gerrard and not a single soul will raise an eyebrow.
Foden equals Gerrard feat as Man City drew to Real Madrid
As the line-ups for Manchester City and Real Madrid emerged, as an unwell Kevin De Bruyne was named on the bench, all eyes turned to Phil Foden to see whether he could step up in his absence.
For the majority of the contest, it seemed like Foden would end up being slated left, right and centre for failing to do so.
The Englishman was barely involved in proceedings while rotating between either his favoured number 10 position or as a right-winger.
It seemed like the Stockport-born attacker was simply having a game to forget and in fairness, he was playing against a team who are reputed for thriving in the Champions League.
Until the 66 minute when the highly-rated technician proved he was “on fire” this season, as Ally McCoist claimed with one of the best goals of the Champions League quarter-finals this season.
As Phil Foden found the back of the net, Opta Joe shared on X that he became the first English player to score in each of his last five starts in the Champions League since Steven Gerrard in the 2007/2008 season.
Foden’s current run of goals scored in his last five starts in Europe’s elite competition is the joint-longest run in the tournament’s history alongside Gerrard.
Phil Foden should aspire to be Manchester City’s Steven Gerrard
Phil Foden deserves massive credit for being on the unique goalscoring streak he is in the Champions League and the fact that he is the first Englishman since Steven Gerrard to be on such a run is incredible.
In football, there are not many players who are either one-club men or just play for their boyhood teams for a chunk of their careers.
However, coming from City’s academy like Gerrard did from Liverpool’s, it would make for a story for the ages if Foden stayed at his boyhood club for most of his career at least.
The midfield maestro clearly bleeds blue, has already made history at the Etihad Stadium and his legacy will be looked back upon for decades if he spends as long as Steven Gerrard did at Liverpool.
Any English midfielder should look up to Gerrard as a player but Foden should do so in more ways than just his qualities as a footballer.