Frank Lampard has hailed Sergio Agüero as one of the greats after the striker’s hat-trick allowed Manchester City to come from behind to beat Bayern Munich.
City took the lead in Tuesday’s Champions League home match through Agüero’s 22nd-minute penalty but were trailing 2-1 before two more dramatic strikes – on 85 and 90 minutes – claimed City’s first victory in Group E. “Agüero is top of the world, top of the list for strikers,” Lampard said. “We had Luis Suárez in the Premier League last season but now we have two of the most in-form strikers in world football in Agüero and Diego Costa. Different styles, obviously, but fantastic players.
“Agüero won us the game against Bayern and it’s great to have a striker like that in your team. I wouldn’t say it makes anything possible, because the rest of the team still has to work around him, but it certainly makes things easier. He takes the majority of his chances, he took every one against Bayern.
“Agüero is one of the most ruthless I have seen. I’ve been fortunate to play with Didier Drogba, who for me was always the greatest. It’s very hard to compare those two because of their different styles but in terms of pure finishing and electric pace Agüero is out on his own at the moment.
“When I first came to City all my friends were asking me what training was like and who had impressed me, and the answer was always Agüero – he’s different class. He’s proved that to everyone now.
“It’s a big call to say he is up there alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo but it’s in his hands, he has the ability. From seeing him at close quarters, I would put him in that bracket, without a doubt. If he carries on in his present form people will mention him in the same breath as the other two. I’ve never played with Messi or Ronaldo, only admired them from afar, but I’m lucky enough to have seen Agüero now and he’s right up there.”