Lyon’s Rayan Cherki earns Lionel Messi and Mesut Özil comparisons | OneFootball

Rayan Cherki’s (21) exceptional season is earning him rave reviews and comparisons to some of the greats of the game.

Cherki, in what is highly likely to be his final season at formative club Olympique Lyonnais, is having the most productive season of his young career. He already has 30 goal contributions (12 goals, 18 assists) in 40 games in all competitions and recently shone for OL as they were cruelly knocked out of the UEFA Europa League at the hands of Manchester United at Old Trafford on Thursday.

Now out of that competition, Cherki leads the assist charts with eight. Cherki’s performances this season have earned him some flattering comparisons. “Rayan has a talent comparable to (Lionel) Messi in terms of technique,” said former Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas.

He has also earned a comparison to Mesut Özil from one of the German’s former Arsenal teammates, Alexandre Lacazette. “Rayan, in everyday life, is a bit special, different and on the pitch, you see that too. This season, he has managed to raise his level,” began the Lyon captain, who is also set to leave Lyon upon the conclusion of the campaign.

He added, “I would put Özil in a different category but, with time, Rayan can get close to him.” Former Real Madrid and Arsenal midfielder Özil won the FIFA World Cup back in 2014 and made over 200 assists over the span of his career.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle