Absolutely spot on. There’s been maybe only a small handful of players who were world class as a teenagers. 25-27, is the time the majority of top footballers come of age.
Paul Scholes is another good example. At 22 he’d played in 42 PL games and scored 15 league goals. He had played in 4 European matches and scored 1 goal. Foden has played in 130 league games and scored 35 league goals. Foden has played in 44 European matches and scored 10 goals. So he’s currently way ahead on appearances and goals.
Paul Scholes wouldn’t surpass Phil’s current numbers of league games and goals, until he was 26. He wouldn’t surpass Phil’s current European appearances or goal tally, until he was 27.
Hard to be patient, but we need to be. We need to be fully behind him. He could become one of, if not the best player, we’ve ever had. That’s how high his ceiling is.
Here’s how Foden compares to some of the top PL greats and Messi, when they were under 23. In terms of appearances and goals. As you can see, it’s only Rooney and Messi who are clear. His stats are close to Ronaldo (although that year Ronaldo would become a world class player and begin scoring 30+ goals a season)
In order of total appearances (not including charity shield or friendlies)
Scholes | Henry | Lampard | Gerrard | Giggs | Messi | Foden | Ronaldo | Rooney | |
League Appearances | 67 | 121 | 148 | 136 | 148 | 144 | 131 | 154 | 224 |
Goals | 18 | 23 | 24 | 16 | 28 | 88 | 35 | 38 | 80 |
Cup Appearances | 13 | 13 | 29 | 20 | 37 | 19 | 41 | 32 | 40 |
Goals | 8 | 0 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 14 |
European Appearances | 8 | 24 | 10 | 35 | 9 | 44 | 44 | 35 | 47 |
Goals | 1 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 25 | 10 | 4 | 16 |
Total Appearances | 88 | 158 | 187 | 191 | 194 | 207 | 216 | 221 | 311 |
Goals | 27 | 31 | 39 | 29 | 40 | 123 | 60 | 55 | 110 |