When the England midfielder wakes up this morning in his Skopje hotel room, looking forward to winning his 50th cap against Macedonia tonight, he might just be feeling the best is yet to come – as far as his international career goes anyway.
Save a Premiership title, it is impossible to top Gerrard's achievements in a Liverpool shirt, having captained the side to a treble of cup victories in 2001, led from the front in an extraordinary Champions League final and scored two wonder goals in May's thrilling FA Cup final.
His country, however, hasn't seen such barnstorming heroics nearly enough. Of course, there have been times when Gerrard has produced something akin to club form. The 5-1 rout of Germany five years ago, for instance, included a rasping drive from a young man who looked all set to take international football by the scruff of the neck for many years to come.
As yet, that hasn't quite happened, as major tournaments, in particular, have caught him on the hop. A nasty groin injury stopped him going to Japan in 2002 while Chelsea's persistent wooing messed up his head during Euro 2004. As for Germany, when the nation expected great things from the 'golden generation', Gerrard couldn't properly break free from the prevailing torpor.
But now this: two games under Steve McClaren when England's vice-captain has looked, more than anything, entirely comfortable in his skin to produce the sort of rampaging stuff we have grown used to with Liverpool. The fact it was only against Greece and Andorra doesn't really matter.
By ditching David Beckham and moving Gerrard out to the right, McClaren has, in one stroke, broken up the unbalanced central midfield partnership with Frank Lampard, added security in the shape of Owen Hargreaves and granted Gerrard the freedom to follow his attacking instincts.
Finally we see a figure who knows his role inside out having successfully played there countless times before. That makes one heck of a difference at this level, even if the player would ideally prefer to play in his favourite position – through the middle of the park.
That scenario, however, doesn't look like happening just yet. Over these upcoming European Championship qualifiers, Gerrard has a chance to start, if you like, all over again by consistently bringing his prodigious talent to bear on the nation as a whole. Not in fits and starts but on a basis that befits such an outstanding player.
At 26, Gerrard has the potential to make the second half of his England career so much more satisfying than the first, starting tonight as he clocks up his half-century. What a bonus that would be as, post-Germany, the country tries to move on from a state of rank disillusion.
1 - England 2 Ukraine 0
London , May 31, 2000
Handed his international debut by Kevin Keegan in a warm-up match for Euro 2000 just 18 months and 44 games since making his bow for the Liverpool first team. Makes a solid debut and is replaced with nine minutes to go by Kieron Dyer.
2 - Germany 1 England 5
Munich Sept 1, 2001
Cements his place in the England midfield, scoring his first international goal – a trademark 25-yard drive past Oliver Kahn – in a famous World Cup qualifying rout. Gerrard now a key figure in Sven-Goran Eriksson's brave new world.
3 - Sweden 1 England 0
Gothenburg March 31, 2004
In the absence of David Beckham and Michael Owen, Gerrard is named England captain for the first time. However, after 21 games undefeated in an England shirt, his luck runs out. "At least it happened in a friendly," he says.
4 - France 2 England 1
Lisbon, June 13, 2004
Gerrard's back pass is seized upon by Thierry Henry, who is hauled down by David James. Zinedine Zidane steps up to score from the penalty spot for France's winner. Indicative of a poor Euro 2004 overshadowed by rumours of a move to Chelsea.
5 - England 2 Trin & Tob 0
Nuremberg, June 15, 2006
Now established as one of the world's most influential midfielders, Gerrard scores twice in his first World Cup – the first a 20-yard special – but again struggles to replicate his club form on the world stage.