Even in July 2021, claiming Harry Maguire to be on the same level as Virgil van Dijk was unreasonable to most fair-minded football fans.
But that's what Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson did as he backed his team-mate to go toe-to-toe with Liverpool 's defensive behemoth in terms of his performances.
Not only did he do that, but he insisted that he would be "proven right" in the future.
"How can you doubt Harry Maguire? Nobody can doubt him," he told TalkSPORT in the build up to the EURO 2020 final – Maguire had, admittedly played a major role in England's run that summer.
Henderson continued: "He plays every single game for Manchester United, the biggest football club in the world and no matter what he gives his best.
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"Unfortunately you can't play outstanding in every game because nobody is perfect, but Harry is a top centre-half.
"I'd put him in the same category as Virgil van Dijk, and I'll be proven right in the next couple of years, because he's only going to get better and better."
Almost six months on from that claim, it feels safe to say that the comparison only looks more foolish.
Van Dijk was coming off the back of almost a full season out with a serious ACL injury, and there was every chance that he might not be able to reach the level of dominance that he had before in a red shirt.
But those fears have since been eased, with the Dutchman looking as imperious as ever in recent outings and a key factor in Liverpool's defensive solidity.
Maguire, on the other hand, looks a pale imitation of the man who has looked so good in an England shirt over the past few years.
Keen to find their own Van Dijk after Liverpool benefitted so much from having the big defender in the heart of their defence, United made the former Leicester City man the most expensive central defender ever when they splashed £80m to bring him to Old Trafford.
But his performances have not lived up to that price tag, and the England international looks far too vulnerable to be considered in the same breath as someone as imposing as Van Dijk.
The most recent example of Maguire's shortcomings came on Tuesday night, when he was far too easily beaten by new Burnley man Wout Weghorst in the build-up to the Clarets' equaliser.
That error ended up costing his side two points. While van Dijk isn't immune to errors, of course, it's exceedingly rare that he makes such a costly one – Maguire has been doing it with worrying regularity for United.
The 28-year-old England defender has shown his abilities before, particularly on the international stage and for a terrific season with Leicester, and is clearly an able defender when on form.
But as ridiculous as the £80m price tag seems, any comparison to van Dijk remains even more far-fetched.
