Lampard's brilliance was not just limited to the deluge of goals he netted over his years at Stamford Bridge - 211 in total at an average of over 16 a season - nor was it confined to the significance of so many of those strikes. What really stands him out as one of the all-time greats was his extraordinary consistency.
He netted 20 or more goals for five consecutive seasons and according to statistics compiled for Premier League assists, he has supplied the second-highest figure in that competition's history. He made a record-breaking 164 consecutive league appearances between 2001 and 2005, still the highest for an outfield player.
The facts may seem to speak for themselves but in truth they barely tell half the story. It is Lampard's dedication to improvement throughout his career that is perhaps the most remarkable facet of his game. Through this unflinching commitment, he blossomed from the solid Premier League midfielder he was when he joined Chelsea, to become the runner-up in the FIFA World Player of the Year awards four years later. No such global recognition has been bestowed on any other Chelsea player, before or since.
Purchased by Claudio Ranieri from West Ham in the summer of 2001 to help plug the summer departures of fans' favourites Dennis Wise and Gus Poyet, Lampard's life at the Bridge began steadily rather than spectacularly but there were examples of the important and well-taken goals that would soon proliferate, and his commanding display against Arsenal's Patrick Vieira in the 2002 FA Cup final in Cardiff gave an indication of the powerful performance with which he would soon make his name.
The following season was a strong one individually and collectively, with Lampard racking up 38 league appearances during a campaign that finished with an invaluable Champions League qualifying spot.
That summer, Roman Abramovich bought the club. With an influx of new stars, many of them midfielders, competition for places increased immensely but Lampard was able to rise to the challenge and raise his game again, quickly emerging as one of the first names on Ranieri's often-changing teamsheet as we sought glory on domestic and European fronts.
The goals from midfield began to flow, including ones of the long-range variety that were increasingly a speciality. His Champions League strike at home to Lazio - viciously hit across the ball - stands out. There were more and more vital goals, too, such as the winning penalty against Man United in November that took us top, while further European finishes followed against Arsenal and Monaco in the competition's latter stages.