Barcelona legend Iniesta hails ex-Chelsea star as 'reference in football'

Andres Iniesta is one of football's greatest ever midfielders, a symbol of the great Barcelona teams, during the Pep Guardiola era and even after.

He achieved immortality after scoring Spain’s 2010 World Cup final winner and shining in a Barcelona team often considered football’s finest.

A La Masia product, he won nine La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, and 35 trophies, making him Spain’s most decorated player.Regarded by many as Spain’s best,

All of this makes Iniesta’s praise for an English midfielder noteworthy.

In a resurfaced interview from years ago, the Barcelona icon spoke highly of Frank Lampard as quoted by FourFourTwo:

“Lampard is a reference in football, both in England and worldwide. I can’t say much more about him. He performed exceptionally well both at the club and international level.

"He’s got all my respect and huge credit to him as he’s one of those players you can look at and learn.”

Lampard’s excellence at Chelsea, where he scored 211 goals in 649 appearances, made him a club legend.

His three Premier League titles and 2012 Champions League victory put in at par with some of the greatest players in the 2010s.