Frank Lampard Hails Sergio Agüero as the Greatest Pure Goal Scorer He Played With

Frank Lampard has played alongside some of the greatest strikers in modern football. From Didier Drogba at Chelsea to Sergio Agüero at Manchester City, the former England midfielder’s career spanned eras, trophies, and unforgettable goals. Yet when asked to name the best “pure” goal scorer he ever shared a pitch with, Lampard’s answer was immediate: Sergio Agüero.

Speaking with admiration and a hint of nostalgia, Lampard described Agüero as laid-back in demeanor but lethal when it mattered most. “Agüero always woke up just in time,” he said with a smile. “He didn’t really pay much attention. He was quite laid-back and would show up to training five minutes late. The coaches would usually tell him he was fined, and he’d reply: ‘Alright, no problem. Wait until the weekend, I’ll score a hat-trick, and we’ll all be happy.’”

A Striker Who Lived for the Weekend

Lampard’s anecdote captures the essence of Agüero: a player who thrived under the pressure of matchday but never seemed weighed down by the daily grind. While many strikers build reputations on intensity in training or meticulous professionalism, Agüero relied on natural instincts and an unshakable confidence in his ability to deliver when it mattered.

“Some players need to train at 100 percent all week just to get themselves into the right mindset,” Lampard explained. “Kun wasn’t like that. He had this calm aura about him, like he knew he could flick the switch when the whistle blew.”

That switch produced a career filled with goals — 260 of them for Manchester City, making him the club’s all-time leading scorer.

The Drogba Comparison

Lampard, of course, also shared a dressing room with Didier Drogba during Chelsea’s most successful era. His respect for the Ivorian is immense. “I always talk about Didier Drogba because he was a complete striker who gave you everything,” Lampard said. “He could hold the ball up, he was strong in the air, he scored in big finals — he had it all.”

But even Drogba, Lampard admitted, could not match Agüero’s raw scoring instinct. “If we’re talking about a pure goal scorer, Agüero is the best I’ve played with,” he insisted.

The distinction is important. Drogba was a talisman, a leader who carried teams on his shoulders. Agüero, on the other hand, was the definition of a finisher — a player who needed only a yard of space, half a chance, and the ball was in the back of the net.

The City Connection

Lampard’s time at Manchester City was brief — a one-season spell in 2014–15 after his move to New York City FC was delayed. Yet during that year, he witnessed Agüero at his peak.

In that campaign, Agüero scored 32 goals in all competitions, winning the Premier League Golden Boot. Lampard, then in the twilight of his career, marveled at the Argentine’s efficiency.

“It was like playing with a cheat code,” Lampard recalled. “You’d give him the ball around the box, and nine times out of ten, you knew what was coming. He was deadly.”

Agüero’s Legacy

Agüero’s legacy in English football is secure. He scored the most famous goal in Premier League history — the injury-time strike against Queens Park Rangers in 2012 that sealed Manchester City’s first title in 44 years. Martin Tyler’s iconic commentary — “Agüerooooo!” — immortalized both the moment and the man.

Beyond that single goal, Agüero delivered year after year. He scored 184 Premier League goals in 275 appearances, becoming the league’s top-scoring foreign player until surpassed by Harry Kane. His consistency, longevity, and ability to perform in big matches made him one of the defining strikers of his generation.

Lampard’s Perspective

For Lampard, who spent most of his career supplying goals for others, Agüero represented something special. “I’ve been lucky enough to play with great players,” he said. “But with Kun, you always felt like something could happen out of nothing. That’s the mark of a true goal scorer.”

While Lampard admired Agüero’s natural ability, he also respected the calm confidence that defined the Argentine’s career. “He never seemed stressed,” Lampard added. “Even if he missed a chance, he’d just shrug it off and wait for the next one. And more often than not, he’d bury it.”

The Final Word

In placing Agüero above Drogba in the specific category of “pure goal scorer,” Lampard offers a reminder of the different forms greatness can take. Drogba was the warrior, the leader who inspired through willpower and presence. Agüero was the assassin, quiet and unassuming until the ball arrived at his feet — and then devastating.

“Didier gave you everything,” Lampard concluded. “But if you just wanted the ball in the net, nobody did it like Sergio.”

For a man who played with both, that judgment carries weight. And for fans of English football, it reaffirms what they already knew: Sergio Agüero wasn’t just one of the best strikers of his generation — he was one of the greatest finishers the Premier League has ever seen.