Former Premier League star compares Real Madrid superstar to Zinedine Zidane | OneFootball

There is way doubt that Jude Bellingham has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world.

At the age of just 21, he has become a leader on the pitch, commanding the respect of his teammates and coaches. He is also a key player for Real Madrid, having already featured in 89 competitive matches since joining the club in 2023.

Bellingham’s early success has led many to compare him to some of the greatest midfielders in football history.

Kanoute compares Bellingham to Zidane

In one such instance, former Premier League forward Frederic Kanoute has compared Bellingham to none other than Real Madrid club legend Zinedine Zidane.

In a recent interaction with The Sun, Kanoute described how Bellingham is similar to Bellingham when it comes to having a winning mentality.

“It would be very easy for me to compare him to Zinedine Zidane. He’s a fan himself. He took his number five and plays for the same club. And he has a little bit of an edge as well,” he said.

Is Bellingham the next Zidane? (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Kanoute, who played for clubs like Tottenham and West Ham in the Premier League, has played against Zidane in his career. He described how the Frenchman could be a good benchmark for Bellingham.

“Right now, it’s not a full comparison. Zidane has proven everything in football and is one of the greatest in history. But I think it’s a good benchmark for him to have,” he said.

Kanoute went on to heap praise on Zidane for his dribbling skill and winning mentality – traits he sees in Bellingham as well.

“I played against Zidane. The ease with which he had to go past his opponents effortlessly, and with class and elegance.

“At the same time, this strength of character that he had, and a winning mentality, it was the full package,” he concluded.

Although it is indeed tempting to compare Bellingham and Zidane, these are still early days, and it will be interesting to see just how quickly the Englishman levels up his game even further.