Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has revealed that he used to idolise French playmaker Zinedine Zidane in his childhood when quizzed about it by a kid.
The former Liverpool and England captain, who currently plies his trade in the MLS for Los Angeles-based side LA Galaxy, has made 114 appearances for his country. Although he has never won the Premier League, he has won one champions league for the Merseyside club in 2005.
The 36-year-old midfielder was interviewed by a young kid as they were driving around in Los Angeles. When asked who was his "favourite player as a kid", Gerrard replied:
"Well, when I was your size, he (Zidane) was the best player in the world. So, I used to try and copy him in the streets, when I was playing or practising."
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Talking to Galaxy TV, he added:
"He (Zidane) was the best in the world. Now it's obviously, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and Robbie Keane."
It is easy to process that Gerrard thinks that Zidane was the best player in the world. The former France international has won every major tournament that he has played in and has many other accolades to his name. The gifted midfielder's first touch and ball control were second to none.
The 1998 Ballon d'Or winner is currently the Real Madrid boss and recently joined the list of elite individuals to have won the Champion League both as a player and as a manager.
The ex-Reds player, who is renowned for his free-kick taking abilities, also said that he missed his family and friends back in Liverpool but he did not miss the 'horrible' weather of the United Kindom.
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While Messi and Ronaldo are indeed the best in the world, the one-time Champions League winner must have jokingly mentioned LA Galaxy team-mate Robbie Keane's name.
In earlier interviews, Gerrard had spoken highly of the ex-Galactico and had named the 1998 World Cup winner as one of his idols alongside the likes of John Barnes and Ian Rush.
The mutual admiration between the two players has always been advertised. In 2009, Zidane had mentioned that Gerrard might be the best player in the world ahead of Messi or Ronaldo and had reportedly even tried to persuade the Real Madrid hierarchy to sign him from the Anfield side.
