On Sunday, foreign media reported that former Chelsea forward Pat Nevin said Cole Palmer should not be compared to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Palmer has become a crucial Chelsea player. The Englishman was the Blues’ leading goalscorer in 2024/25 and won the PFA Young Player of the Year award in his debut season. Palmer could be Zinedine Zidane’s successor, but Nevin shouldn’t compare him to Messi and Ronaldo.
Cole Palmer-Zinedine Zidane analogy was fine last year. Last year wasn’t good. It could be fine again. He’s a world-class player. He’s young. In the Euros, Cole was on the bench while other players were the focus “Nevin remarked.
“He’s level. Don’t compare anyone to Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi—it’s unfair. Next level down. I think he’s close, but he needs to do it year after year. Last year was eventful.”
Nevin added that Estevao Willian and Jamie Gittens will help Cole Palmer improve.
“What’s going to help him this year is the players around him, Estevao and James Gittens, they’re probably going to make it a bit easier for him and everybody else getting stronger.”
Palmer has scored 43 goals and given 29 assists in 97 Chelsea matches since joining from Manchester City in September 2023.
