Jamie Redknapp has lavished high praise on Frank Lampard.

The Chelsea legend called his retirement from professional football on Thursday after a sparkling 21-year career at the top.

Former West Ham United, Manchester City and New York City midfielder Lampard, 38, ends his career as Chelsea's all-time leading goalscorer and his exploits on the pitch were congratulated by former Liverpool star and his cousin Redknapp.

"What a player. Almost a freak of nature," he told Sky Sports News HQ.

"When you talk about midfielders you would have to say Frank is the greatest goalscoring midfielder ever - not just in the Premier League - due to what he did and what he achieved.

"It was always so difficult to play against him because the longer the game went on you knew his fitness levels were so good, he would find a way of ghosting into the box. He was almost like a magnet, whenever the ball fell it always seemed to go to him. He was brilliant at it and he did it time and time again.

"I don't think there will be anybody in Premier League history who repeats what he does in terms of goals and also assists, which I don't think he got the credit for. He had a wonderful relationship with Didier Drogba at Chelsea."