The Premier League has not been short of iconic and legendary stars in the past. Cristiano Ronaldo burst onto the scene for Manchester United. Some of England’s greatest midfielders ever Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, and Paul Scholes spent the majority of their careers in the league.
World Cup winners in the likes of Thierry Henry have been some of the greatest of all to ever grace the league. But in the present day a number of stars are building strong legacies in the English top flight and their achievements could certainly rival past generations by the time they hang their boots up.
Kevin de Bruyne – Steven Gerrard
Kevin de Bruyne has won multiple Premier League titles at Manchester City and he has been one of the key driving forces to victory. This season he could again lead his City team to the title, in betting on Premier League fixtures for the remainder of the season, Arsenal is the favorite to end the season on the top of the league offered at -120.
But in the latest Premier League tips City are still believed to be in with a strong chance of retaining their league crown and the Belgian has been incredibly influential in their season so far. In the tie at the Emirates Stadium against their title rivals he netted the opening goal and generally dictated the tempo of the contest from midfield.
Kevin De Bruyne is closing in on the 100 club ?️⏳#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/ZsD02ZxkWd
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) March 4, 2023
de Bruyne’s ability to control games from midfield and have vital influence in the defensive and offensive areas has earned him comparisons to Gerrard. The Liverpool legend was similarly the heartbeat of his team, but perhaps what harmed his legacy most was failing to win a Premier League title. The Belgian technician is a four-time Premier League champion and back in 2019/20 he even managed to level Thierry Henry’s assist record. With 20 assists from midfield, it was a remarkable feat, and in the current season, de Bruyne could potentially even topple the Frenchman’s long-standing now joint record. Gerrard did have a UEFA Champions League title but domestically it is tough to argue that de Bruyne has not had a greater impact in terms of his individual numbers helping to deliver team accolades.
Mohamed Salah – Thierry Henry
Salah has broken records in the Premier League ever since he joined Liverpool in the summer of 2017. He holds the record for the most goals scored in a single season and is quickly climbing up the leaderboard of the all-time top scorer’s list. Henry boasts a record four golden boot awards from his team at Arsenal, but Salah’s time in the league seems far from over and he already has three top scorer awards to his name. When discussing the league’s all-time greats Henry is often seen as the benchmark and the fact Salah’s achievements can even compare are indicative of his impact on the league. If Salah can win another golden boot award then it is foreseeable that the legacy he leaves behind could eclipse Henry’s Premier League career.
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) March 9, 2023
Legends of the game are often protected by nostalgia and are treated like they are untouchable. However, the improvement of the game means that present and future players will better their achievements in the English game. They may even have a superior individual ability to the stars of the past – Salah and de Bruyne are perfect examples as they have some of the greatest talents the league has ever seen.
