Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard (pictured right) and Chelsea’s Frank Lampard (pictured left) have overtaken Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo in the FTBL Top 23 of the world’s best midfielders and have their sight now firmly set on first-placed Lionel Messi of Barcelona.

Gerrard picked up 22.20 points in England’s 4:0 trashing of Kazakhstan in the World Cup 2010 qualifier, while Lampard, who scored the fourth for England, earned a whopping 28.95 rating points. Gerrard has now boosted his overall ratings to 196.25 points and grabbed the 2nd place, while Lampard is in 3rd place with 187.85 points over all.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who had a high plank to beat in the World Cup qualifier in Albania, was unable to earn rating points despite Portugal’s 2:1 win and has slumped to 4th place with 187.22 points over all.