Frank Lampard deserves to be greatest goal scoring midfielder ever

Chelsea legend Frank Lampard has announced his retirement from football at the age of 38 and after 21 years ad a professional.

During his best years at Chelsea he was regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world who had a knack for scoring long range efforts.

Frank Lampard

However the number of goals he scored stands him out not only as a Chelsea legend but also as one of the all time greats.

Here are the STATS and NUMBERS that suggest Lampard is the greatest goal scoring midfielder ever;

1. With 211 goals Frank Lampard is Chelsea's leading goalscorer of all time ahead of Bobby Tambling.

2. Only John Terry, Peter Bonetti and Ron Harris have made more Chelsea appearances than Lampard's 648 appearances. It took him only 13 years to reach those numbers.

3. Lampard's brace at Bolton in 2005 not only secured the victory for Chelsea - it also sealed their first title in half a century.

4. The Englishman lifted a total of of 11 major trophies with Chelsea: one Champions League, three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups.

5. Lampard was the first Chelsea player to score in a Champions League final when the Blues lost the 2008 edition to Manchester United, he then became the first man to captain his former to the trophy when he did so in 2012 in the absence of John Terry.

Lampard led Chelsea to the Champions League title in 2012

6. Lampard when 164 consecutive games without missing a Premier League clash. This happened in a four year span between October 2001 and December 2005, which is a record for any outfield player.

7. As well as all of his goals for Chelsea, he found the back of the net 29 times for England and was also on target for West Ham United, Manchester City and New York City to surpass the 300-goal mark in his career.

Frank Lampard was an England regular for 11 years

8. Lampard is fourth on the Premier League all-time goal scoring list with 177 goals.

9. The London born man is second on the Premier League assist charts with 102 goals laid on for teammates.

10. The retired also has the Premier League record for scoring against the most premier League teams after scoring for Manchester City against Chelsea in 2014.

Lampard during his time at Manchester City

He scored against a record 39 different top-flight teams, with a competition record 41 strikes from outside of the box.