Chelsea star Raheem Sterling has received praise from Chelsea fans for his superb free-kick in his side’s 4-0 FA Cup third round win against Preston North End.
Sterling found the net from just outside the area with an excellent effort in the 69th minute to put his side 3-0 ahead.
Armando Broja, Thiago Silva and Enzo Fernandez also managed to get on the scoresheet as Mauricio Pochettino‘s team prevailed.
It was Sterling’s goal – his seventh of the season in all competitions – which captured the most attention.
One user on X compared Sterling to Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi following his goal.
They wrote: ‘WHAT AN INCREDIBLE FREE KICK RAHEEM STERLING MESSI WHO???’.
Another fan added: ‘Sterling, what a goal man’.
A third fan also praised Sterling, writing: ‘STERLING WHAT A STRIKE ITS A BEATDOWN NOW’.
One user wrote: ‘So, so good from Raheem Sterling here. Beautiful strike.’
Another user compared Sterling’s effort to his recent free-kick against Newcastle. They wrote: ‘3-0 Sterling free-kick, almost a carbon copy of his strike against Newcastle.. What a free kick’.
A fifth user wrote: ‘Fair play to Sterling. He’s amazing from this range’.
Another added: ‘Raheem Sterling’s free kick ability is underrated’.
Meanwhile, another user took the opportunity to criticise Manchester United’s Antony. They wrote: ‘Sterling has more free kick goals than Antony has normal goals this season.’