Source: Telegraph
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard hailed as world's best player by Zinedine Zidane
The legendary former Real Madrid playmaker saw his old club dismantled by Gerrard's side in midweek, when Liverpool ran out 4-0 winners at Anfield, 5-0 on aggregate.[LNB]The England international scored two of the goals and ahead the weekend's crucial trip to Old Trafford, and Zidane has claimed he is a better all-round player than Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, the current holder of the Ballon d'Or.[LNB] Related ArticlesPapers: Rooney gagged after Liverpool 'hate' comments[LNB]Champions League: Big four[LNB]Rooney wants to halt 'hated' Liverpool[LNB]Benitez to decide on future in next fortnight[LNB]Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo wins Ballon d'Or and says best is yet to come[LNB]Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to win Ballon d'Or ahead of Fernando Torres and Lionel Messi[LNB]"Is he the best in the world? He might not get the attention of Lionel Messi and Ronaldo but yes, I think he just might be," said Zidane.[LNB]"If you don't have a player like Steven Gerrard, who is the engine room, it can affect the whole team.[LNB]"When we were winning league titles and European Cups at Real, I always said Claude Makelele was our most important player. There is no way myself, (Luis) Figo or Raul would have been able to do what we did without Claude and the same goes for Liverpool and Gerrard.[LNB]"When Claude left us for Chelsea I campaigned for us to buy Patrick Vieira – and Gerrard is now in the same mould as him.[LNB]"For many years Patrick was the most complete midfielder in the world and now that award must go to Gerrard."[LNB]Zidane, who has recently been linked with a return to the Bernabeu to take on a consultant's role, insisted that Gerrard's influence on the rest of the squad is what makes him a true legend at Anfield. Taking nothing away from his talent as a player the Frenchman added: "No team will be successful without a heartbeat and you can see Gerrard is that heartbeat.[LNB]"He has great passing ability, can tackle and scores goals, but most importantly he gives the players around him confidence and belief. You can't learn that – players like him are just born with that presence."[LNB][LNB]
