Caicedo's recent player-of-the-match performance has sparked debate about his ranking among Chelsea's legendary midfielders. The 23-year-old Ecuadorian international has now been compared to Kante and Makelele by Lampard, who believes Caicedo is developing into a world-class midfielder.

Lampard reflected on his playing days, comparing Kante and Makelele: "They were both amazing players. I played with Maka, and he was a different type to N'Golo, as N'Golo could really move around, whereas Maka would often sit in front of the defense." However, Lampard sees similarities between Caicedo's playing style and Makelele's ability to break up opposition attacks quickly.

Lampard also pointed out that Caicedo has shown he can possess the same qualities as Kante, such as arriving at the edge of the box and scoring goals. Caicedo's impressive performances have been evident in his ability to help Chelsea win competitions, including the Club World Cup and Conference League last season, and his current goal tally of 3 this term, surpassing his total from the entire 2024/25 season.

Lampard believes the comparison between Caicedo and Chelsea's legendary midfielders is justified, given his consistent performances for the team. He encourages Caicedo to continue playing well and aiming to win more titles with Chelsea: "What he's got to do now is just turn out consistently for the next season and hopefully try and win things with Chelsea. It makes sense, he's doing really well."