Frank Lampard [Images] has something of an old-fashioned boys' comic-book hero about him -- brave, steadfast, dedicated, charitable, good to his mother and on the spot to score the winning goal.

The midfielder's exploits for England [Images] and English champions Chelsea have earned him a place on the shortlist of three, including Barcelona's Ronaldinho [Images] and Samuel Eto'o, for FIFA's World Player of the Year award.

Last month he was runner-up to Brazilian Ronaldinho for the European prize and has walked away with countless domestic awards.

Perhaps his greatest accolade, however, comes from Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who describes him as a "complete player" whom he would not swap for any other.

The 27-year-old from Essex has come on in leaps and bounds since arriving at Stamford Bridge from West Ham United in 2001, signed by Claudio Ranieri for 11 million pounds ($19.5 million). During his first season he endured taunts for being slow, dumpy and overpriced.

He impressed the management, however, with his hard work and dedication, learned after years of training as a boy with his footballer father, also Frank.

"In the early years he would have me over the park training. When everyone else was at home or playing with their mates I was jumping on the floor getting up and running again and sprinting," Lampard said.

Even now, when not playing he trains in the David Beckham [Images] way, staying behind to do extra running, or practising free kicks.

He also enjoys the constitution of an ox -- Mourinho has described him as an animal and Manchester United [Images] boss Alex Ferguson as something of a freak for his staying power.

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Last month Lampard broke the Premier League record for successive appearances and has now played 161 on the trot, never missing since Oct. 13 2001. It is a remarkable record, snatched from goalkeeper David James, for a midfielder and especially a classic box-to-box player who, Mourinho says, runs more kilometres per game than any of his players.

He also runs through pain, postponing a toe operation last April so he could finish the season.

"He is unbelievable," Mourinho said. "When you think ...no bad performances under two managers. Not me, not Claudio (Ranieri) left him out to rest him or because he was not playing well."

HIGHEST SCORER

Lampard also scores goals. Despite the club employing international strikers he was Chelsea's highest scorer last season and leads the rankings this season, having also led the Premier League table for several weeks.

He has a devastating shot and a searing free kick, takes a pin-point corner and is a super-cool penalty taker -- a job he has also taken over from David Beckham for England.

A stalwart of Sven-Goran Eriksson's side, he scored three times at Euro 2004 to be voted England player of the year that year, and contributed five in England's successful World Cup qualifying campaign.

Lampard's career has outstripped his father's and put that of his uncle Harry Redknapp, who nurtured him at West Ham and now manages Portsmouth, and former England midfielder cousin Jamie Redknapp in the shade.

But his was not the start of the average footballer.

He enjoyed a private school education, studied Latin, passed a clutch of public exams and might have continued on an academic path if football had not got the upper hand.

The education shows in his facility with words whether talking to the press or giving an after dinner speech.

He has organised charity occasions, raising 500,000 pounds at a dinner and auction recently for teenage cancer sufferers.

Last May, he earned a standing ovation from a critical audience of writers and pundits for his acceptance speech for his English Footballer of the Year award, delivered with professional timing and self-effacing humour.

One national paper was so impressed they printed the speech in full, compete with effusive thanks to his mother and the rest of his family.

Mourinho believes Lampard must win more that the English title to earn the sort of profile enjoyed by Ronaldinho or former winner Ronaldo [Images].

The midfielder's aim now is to help Chelsea past the Champions League semi-final stumbling block that has caught them the last two years.

He also needs to fine-tune his sometimes uneasy partnership at the centre of the England midfield with Liverpool's Steven Gerrard to give England the chance of World Cup honours next year.

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