Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher have debated where Kevin De Bruyne ranks alongside the greatest midfielders in football history after his sensational strike for Manchester City against Real Madrid.
De Bruyne's second half thunderbolt hauled City level with Real in the Champions League semi-final, with the game finishing level at 1-1 after the first leg in Spain.
Henry used to coach De Bruyne when he was an assistant with the Belgium national team, and compared him with the iconic Barcelona midfielders in Xavi and Andres Iniesta that used to be his teammates.
Carragher, meanwhile, praised the Belgian and said that Champions League glory would cement his status alongside the midfield greats while speak on CBS.
'He showed up today,' Henry said. 'I don't think he had a great game but it was an important goal. I have to say I came across a lot of players, played with and against some of the greatest.
'I think Kevin, his brain is the best that I've seen. Because his brain, in some places I don't know what he thinks about sometimes in all fairness. You look at him and it is like he is not with us, it can almost be a problem because you are not on his level.
'I think he is the most clever player I've ever seen in my life. It is just second to none, the way that he thinks. I saw him for six years on and off with Belgium, you love the man a bit more because I saw stuff that he did in training and in games.
'He is a perfectionist, unbelievable. Kevin, his brain, I am still thinking about stuff that I've seen and it is just from a different planet.'
Carragher, meanwhile, spoke of how impressive De Bruyne was against Real and how Champions League glory would take his reputation in the game to an even greater height.
'If he could be the man who takes them to the Champions League, the treble, it elevates him,' Carragher said. 'We are not questioning his ability but we always judge players in the biggest moments, the biggest tournaments.
'That's why I compared to Luka Modric before the game - he's wont he Ballon d'Or, five European cups and played in the World Cup final. Kevin, if they get to the final, we are not just talking one of the best midfielders of his generation but one of the best midfielders we have seen.
'I don't think I've seen many better and I've been watching football for 30 or 40 years. I don't think I've seen a better passer but he just needs that Champions League. He needs to have it and he needs to be the man who has an integral part.
'Then he can go right up there with Iniesta, Xavi and Modric.'
Micah Richards asked Carragher if De Bruyne is better than Steven Gerrard, Carragher's iconic Liverpool teammate.
'Not right now, Stevie has got that Istanbul moment,' Carragher said. ' I couldn't say Gerrard was a lot better than De Bruyne, there is nothing in it. It would split a debate.
'But what Steven has got is that Istanbul moment. It's one game but it is just that moment that you can't ever take out of your mind when you think of Steven Gerrard.
'We still haven't got that one moment with Kevin De Bruyne at the absolute highest level. This season could be the season.'
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