Caicedo crowns Makelele as the midfield GOAT — and gets a nod back
Moises Caicedo doesn’t mind sticking his neck out. Asked to name the greatest central midfielder ever, the Chelsea powerhouse swerved the usual suspects — Steven Gerrard, Andres Iniesta, Zinedine Zidane, even Xavi — and planted his flag squarely with Claude Makelele. It’s a choice that tells you plenty about how Caicedo sees the game and himself: control first, sparkle later.
The rise that set up the shout
Since landing in England and battering down doors at Brighton, Caicedo’s trajectory has been nothing short of meteoric. Chelsea splashed a then-British record £115m to bring him to the Bridge, and after a wobbly bedding-in period he’s turned into the Blues’ metronome and enforcer rolled into one — a human shield in front of the back line who can still drive them up the pitch when the moment’s right.
Interview picks: James, Messi and pace to burn
In a quick-fire Premier League sit-down, Caicedo named Reece James as the best teammate he’s lined up alongside and Lionel Messi as the finest he’s faced — fair enough, you won’t get many arguments on either. When pace came up, he tipped Pedro Neto as the quickest he’s worked with, and Nico Gonzalez as the speedster he’s had to chase the other way.
Why Makelele? The lineage of the modern No 6
Makelele isn’t just a blast from Chelsea’s past; he practically defined the holding role. Picking him over the headline-makers is Caicedo saying “this is my craft.” He’s long admitted he models parts of his game on Makelele and N’Golo Kante — humility, clean tackles, smart positioning — while he also cites Paul Pogba among the midfielders he admired coming through. In the end, Kante took top spot as his idol, but Makelele remains his gold standard for the position.
Makelele’s verdict: leadership and Ballon d’Or talk
The respect runs both ways. Makelele has praised Caicedo’s blend of power and tactical nous, talking up his quiet leadership — the type that balances a team’s emotions, technical level and tempo without needing the armband. Go further, and the French great has even suggested that if Caicedo keeps this form, he could shove himself into the Ballon d’Or conversation as soon as next year. Big words from a man who knows what elite looks like.
Pundit’s view: a fair shout over the artists
Let’s have it right: choosing Makelele isn’t a slight on the artists. Xavi and Iniesta painted masterpieces. Gerrard dragged teams to glory. Zidane floated above the grind and still won the fights. But if your lens is the heartbeat of a team’s balance — interceptions, positioning, tempo, that unseen glue — Makelele is as pure as it gets. Caicedo’s pick mirrors his own brief: win it, use it, repeat. It’s not romantic; it’s ruthless — and it wins matches.
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What it means for Chelsea
For Chelsea, this is the blueprint. With Caicedo embracing the Makelele-Kante lineage, the spine looks sturdier by the week. Keep that consistency and sprinkle in a touch more punch in the final third, and the Ecuadorian won’t just be name-checking legends — he’ll be nudging his way into those conversations himself.
