Cole Palmer's Mount Rushmore: Ronaldo, Rooney, Neymar & the Undisputed GOAT

Right, let’s get one thing straight – I’m a footballer, not a professional gamer, but sometimes it feels like I’ve been playing FIFA on easy mode ever since I rocked up at Stamford Bridge. Come on, winning the Club World Cup and the Europa Conference League in my first couple of seasons? That’s the kind of stuff you normally only pull off in Career Mode. But here we are in 2026, and I’m still pinching myself.

So when someone asked me to name the four greatest players to ever lace up a pair of boots, I didn’t have to think too hard. I’ve spent enough Sunday mornings (and Monday nights, and Wednesday afternoons… look, football is life) watching YouTube compilations to have a pretty solid opinion. Get ready, because I’m about to take you on a nostalgia trip down my personal Mount Rushmore of football.

4. Cristiano Ronaldo – The Unstoppable Machine

Before you lot start throwing rotten tomatoes at me for putting Cristiano fourth, hear me out. Do I appreciate the sheer madness of a bloke scoring over 400 goals for Real Madrid alone? Absolutely. I mean, the guy turned the Champions League into his personal garden party – four times in five years? Ridiculous.

But being fourth on my list is like being the fourth richest oil baron – you’re still doing okay, mate. Ronaldo was the winger who morphed into a centre-forward without ever losing that killer instinct, and I still get goosebumps thinking about the stepovers and that thumping knuckleball free-kick. The stats don’t lie: five Ballon d’Ors and a trophy cabinet that probably has its own postcode. I’d kill for even half the headers he scored. Still, I can’t put him higher... because, well, you’ll see why in a bit.

3. Wayne Rooney – The Blue-Collar Baller

Now we’re talking. Growing up in Manchester, if you didn’t try to belt a ball into the top corner and slide on your knees like Wazza, were you even really a kid? Rooney gets third spot because he was pure fire back in the day. That debut hat-trick against Fenerbahce? I must have watched that clip a thousand times – and yes, it’s still as good in 2026 as it was in 2004.

Here’s the thing: Rooney wasn’t just a goalscorer. He’d drop deep, crunch into tackles, ping a 60-yard pass, and then sprint into the box to head it home. A proper street footballer in a team of superstars. 253 goals for United, England’s record scorer until Harry Kane overtook him – I remember that moment in 2023, almost like a punch to the gut for a United fan like me. But for a born red, having Rooney in my top three is mandatory. My dad would disown me otherwise.

2. Neymar Jr – The Artist I Can’t Forget

Alright, put the pitchforks down. I know what you’re thinking: “Palmer, are you mad? Neymar over Ronaldo?” Yes, and I’m happy to explain. Some players make you fall in love with football again, and for me, that’s Neymar. When the bloke was in the zone, it felt like he was floating above the pitch. Defenders were just obstacles in his personal samba video.

Shameless, cheeky, and outrageously talented – he’d nutmeg someone and wink at the camera. I just love that. Sure, his individual Ballon d’Or count is zero because his timeline coincided with two actual aliens, but does that diminish the magic? Not for me. The way he glided past challenges, the no-look passes, the rainbow flicks… pure joy. I’ll take artistry and audacity over raw numbers sometimes, and in 2026, looking back at his career, I still feel the same chills.

1. Lionel Messi – The Obvious, Beautiful Answer

Let’s not pretend there was ever any doubt. Lionel Messi is, and always will be, football’s ultimate cheat code. Eight Ballon d’Ors – eight! – and a World Cup in 2022 that basically made every bar argument about the GOAT redundant. When I sit behind the striker now in this Chelsea team, I think, “What would Messi do?” Obviously I’m not going to replicate it – my left foot is good, but it’s not sculpted by the gods – but the clarity he had just… breaks your brain.

Remember when I was handed the No.10 shirt at Chelsea? I said it back then: “Messi, the big one, Rooney, and players like that. It’s just an iconic number.” Wearing it is a daily reminder of the standard he set. Even now in 2026, with Messi chilling in Miami and doing ridiculous things in MLS, I still watch his clips before training. The hat-trick against Real Madrid, the solo goal against Getafe, the chip against Betis… I could go on forever.

And there it is. Four legends, four different flavours of genius. I’m just a lad from Manchester who gets to call them his heroes – and one day, maybe some kid out there will watch me chip a keeper and put me on their own list. Well, a bloke can dream, right?

As a football fan, moments of brilliance inspire us not only on the pitch but also in how we connect with the game beyond it. Whether it’s watching highlights, debating stats, or even hunting down the latest football video games to relive those iconic plays, the passion never truly fades. For those of us who love gaming as much as football, staying updated on the best deals is crucial.

That’s where a game price tracker comes in handy. Platforms like DealNest make it easier to find discounts on the football games we cherish, so you can focus on recreating those Rooney volleys or Messi dribbles without breaking the bank. It’s just another way to keep the beautiful game alive, both offline and online.