Didier Drogba has called time on a remarkable football career.The Ivorian striker, who has spent the last 18 months playing for Phoenix Rising in the United States, confirmed his retirement this week."It's the best way to end, helping some young talent to develop," Drogba told BBC World Service’s Sportshour."To give something back to the game was the best way to finish as I have learned so much in the game."Drogba is 40 now and he bows out of the game as a legend.Particularly at Chelsea, where he scored the winning penalty in the 2012 Champions League final shootout against Bayern Munich.Drogba scored 164 goals in 381 games across two spells for the Blues. The trophies poured in - he won four Premier Leagues, four FA Cups to go with his Champions League winners’ medal.

Michael Cox's tweets spark debate

But in spite of the goals and the trophies, has Drogba’s Chelsea career been made to look better than it actually was?

Football tactics writer Michael Cox seems to think so.

Cox took to Twitter to claim that, excusing his performances in cup finals and two outstanding seasons, Drogba contributed little in several seasons at Stamford Bridge.

“Strange player. Best cup final player you'll ever see and two outstanding seasons, but also quite a lot of bad campaigns where he contributed little and Chelsea tried to build without him,” Cox tweeted.

Ouch. Drogba quickly became part of the spine that helped Chelsea to so much success, beginning in 2004.

But, as Cox goes on to state, his goal return in the Premier League was sometimes disappointing.

Drogba scored 104 goals in 254 Premier League matches, but he had two seasons in which he scored just five goals and one season in which he scored eight times.

Cox added: “Without wanting to overdo it, Drogba was clearly brilliant for two Golden Boot seasons, and in the other seasons scored as many as: Emile Heskey, Henri Camara, Joleon Lescott, Heskey again, Kevin Nolan and James McClean. (Won't include his comeback campaign.) It's...OK.”

Cox’s message was always going to cause a stir, particularly among Chelsea supporters.

Here’s how he responded to the debate.

Regardless of what Cox thinks, Drogba will be remembered as one of the greatest strikers in Chelsea’s history.

On his day, he was simply unstoppable. It’s no wonder former Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic considers him the toughest opponent he faced during his career.

Hope you're watching, Alvaro Morata.

Cox went on to admit that his tweet about Drogba may have been harsh, before highlighting his favourite goal that the former Ivory Coast international scored for Chelsea - his superb strike against Tottenham in the 2011-12 FA Cup semi-final.