Jamie Carragher believes Kevin De Bruyne will be regarded in the same breath as Steven Gerrard if he can win the Champions League.
De Bruyne scored Manchester City's equaliser in their 1-1 draw with Real Madrid on Tuesday night, a result that keeps their hopes of winning a maiden European Cup alive. Pep Guardiola's side will reach the final if they win the return leg in Manchester in a week's time.
De Bruyne, 31, is already regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation after winning trophies in three countries - including four Premier League titles - but Carragher thinks the Belgium international needs to do more to join the pantheon of all-time greats.
Carragher was asked for his opinion on De Bruyne during an appearance on CBS Sports on Tuesday night. He said: "If he could be the man who takes them to the Champions League, the Treble, it elevates him.
"We are not questioning his ability but we always judge players in the biggest moments, the biggest tournaments. That's why I compared him to Luka Modric before the game - he's won the 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.
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"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 [Andres] Iniesta, Xavi [Hernandez] and Modric."
Carragher was then asked whether De Bruyne is in the same league as Gerrard by Micah Richards. Gerrard won everything in the club game, except the Premier League, and famously helped Liverpool recover from three goals down to win the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan in Istanbul. This year's final will be held in the same city.
Carragher, who played alongside Gerrard at Liverpool, replied: "Not right now, Stevie has got that Istanbul moment. 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."
Yet Thierry Henry thinks De Bruyne has already secured his spot in the gallery of greats. The Arsenal legend, who coached De Bruyne with Belgium, said: "I think Kevin, his brain is the best that I've seen... 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."
