A brief guide to … Didier Drogba, the biggest of big-game players

Montreal Impact’s new signing was Chelsea’s main man in their golden era – and he took care of business when it really mattered

English football has been blessed with quite a few big-game players down the years, the guy who always shows up when it really matters. Ian Rush scored five goals in three FA Cup finals for Liverpool, an all-time record. John Robertson played in two European Cup finals for Nottingham Forest, scoring the winner in one and setting up the winner in the other. Bobby Charlton scored the goals that sent his country to a World Cup final, and another two for his team in a European Cup final. Steven Gerrard has notched in every major club final possible. Eric Cantona’s FA Cup final report reads played two, took care of business in two. The same goes for Roberto di Matteo. Alan Kennedy decided two European Cup finals. As a self-confessed bog-standard left-back for Liverpool.

But none of these figures – legends all, in their many different ways – can hold a candle to Didier Drogba. The big Ivorian’s record in the biggest matches has been simply astonishing. Second to none. The ultimate big-game player.

Related: Didier Drogba’s glory may have faded, but for Chelsea he’ll always be glorious | Barney Ronay

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