Joe Cole compares 'sensational' Cole Palmer to Lionel Messi after Chelsea star's audacious goal against Bournemouth

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Joe Cole compared Chelsea's Cole Palmer to eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi after the 22-year-old netted an audacious dummy-finish to put the Blues ahead against Bournemouth. Meanwhile, fellow TNT Sports pundit Peter Crouch likened the England international to former Real Madrid and Arsenal star Mesut Ozil, citing his casual style when under pressure.

Palmer 'reminds you of Messi'

Video credit: TNT Sports

Joe Cole compared Cole Palmer to Lionel Messi after the Chelsea star's audacious finish against Bournemouth.

The 22-year-old scored the first goal of the game, as Chelsea claimed a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday night.

Nicolas Jackson held up the ball before feeding Palmer, who floored Bournemouth keeper Mark Travers with a dummy and passed into an empty net.

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Analysing the goal, TNT Sports pundit and former Chelsea attacker Cole compared the England international to eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi.

"He plays the game at his own speed," Cole said. "That's the biggest compliment I could pay to him.

"When you watch him, he reminds you of Messi. I wouldn't want to put that kind of pressure on him, but he plays at his own rhythm and his own pace.

'Wow!' - Watch all angles of Palmer's goal against Bournemouth

Video credit: TNT Sports

"It's a sensational finish and these fans absolutely love watching him play football."

Peter Crouch, meanwhile, compared Palmer to another footballing great of the past decade - Mesut Ozil.

"It reminds me of Mesut Ozil a little bit, the calmness, it's almost too casual, just sits the goalkeeper down," said Crouch.

"The amount of people that get in that position, packed stadium and lash it over the bar or wide, the ability for a young man to stop it, put the keeper down and roll it into an empty net, that's what makes him special."

Ex-United defender Rio Ferdinand added: "It was rude! It's out of order, it’s in the school playground you do that. It's rude, outrageous really.

"I'll pay to watch him every day of the week because I know I'm going to get something like that, that will get me off my seat and make me scream."

Bournemouth hit back with two second-half goals through Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo, only for Chelsea to rescue a point through a Reece James free-kick.

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