Cole Palmer vs Messi: Pat Nevin Highlights ‘Game Intelligence’ Similarity

Chelsea legend Pat Nevin has drawn an unexpected yet insightful comparison between Cole Palmer and Lionel Messi, focusing not on their speed or stats, but on something far more nuanced: football intelligence.

Speaking after Chelsea’s triumphant 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 Club World Cup final, Nevin praised Palmer’s growing stature as a world-class talent. The 23-year-old midfielder was instrumental in the final, scoring twice and assisting once — a performance that earned him the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.

“Cole Palmer is quite fast, but that absolutely is not why he is a world-class player. Lionel Messi is very fast with the ball at his feet, but pace never defined him — it was ability,” Nevin said in the BBC Football Extra newsletter.

Nevin emphasized that both players share a rare quality in today’s high-speed game: the ability to read, anticipate, and control the flow of play through sheer intelligence.

“Just look at the game now and you will realise that although you generally have to be fast, slow players rarely survive now. Still, excessive speed doesn’t outdo skill, intelligence, and game awareness,” Nevin added.

While comparisons with Messi, a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, are lofty, Nevin’s remarks underline Palmer’s rapid rise and how his cerebral approach sets him apart from many of his peers.

Palmer’s exceptional 2024/25 season has drawn praise from other figures in football as well. Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez hailed him as “the best in the world right now” after his standout display in the final. Meanwhile, Joe Cole and Liam Delap have both spoken highly of his composure and creativity.

Having taken over Chelsea’s iconic No. 10 shirt once worn by Eden Hazard, Palmer now appears on track to build his own legacy at Stamford Bridge — not just through numbers, but through the brilliance of his footballing mind.