The 2018 World Cup champion shared his picks during an interview with popular Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos, joined by his Atletico Madrid teammate Julian Alvarez. Griezmann revealed his top five all-time greats, placing a fellow Frenchman, Zinedine Zidane, at the top.

Griezmann was only seven years old when Zidane led France to their first-ever World Cup title in 1998, starring in the final with a memorable brace in a 3–0 win over Brazil — a team loaded with legends like Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Cafu and Rivaldo.

What caught most people’s attention was that Griezmann named Lionel Messi second on his list but left Cristiano Ronaldo out entirely, despite having faced him numerous times throughout his career with Real Sociedad, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid.

Rounding out his top five behind Zidane were Diego Maradona in third, Johan Cruyff in fourth, and David Beckham in fifth — a ranking that surprised many for its omission of the Portuguese star.

Julian Alvarez’s picks

Argentina forward Julian Alvarez, who now shares the attack with Griezmann at Atletico Madrid, had no hesitation naming Lionel Messi as the greatest player of all time. His top five also included two other Argentine legends: Diego Maradona in second place and Alfredo Di Stefano in third.

Alvarez completed his list with Brazil’s 2002 World Cup champion Ronaldo Nazario and, unlike Griezmann, included Cristiano Ronaldo in fifth place to round out his top five.

The Brazilian icon won two FIFA World Cups (1994 and 2002) with the national team and shined at every club he represented. Beyond his titles, Ronaldo’s legacy is cemented by his extraordinary skill, earning admiration from elite players for his ability to dribble past defenders and score in every way imaginable.

In a recent interview with Romario on the Brazilian star’s YouTube channel, Ronaldo revealed who he considers his greatest teammate. Without hesitation, Ronaldo confidently named his pick: “Zinedine Zidane.”

The two superstars played together for four seasons at Real Madrid during the iconic “Galácticos” era of the early 2000s. Ronaldo was full of praise for Zidane, stating: “He played at a completely different level—so technical, with incredible ease on the ball… My God, what class!”

Together, Ronaldo and Zidane captured three trophies during their time with Los Blancos: a La Liga title, a Spanish Super Cup, and the 2002 Intercontinental Cup. However, Ronaldo joined the club after their 2002 UEFA Champions League triumph, meaning he narrowly missed out on lifting Europe’s most coveted trophy with Zidane and the team.

At the time, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez assembled a team of global stars. From stealing Luis Figo away from Barcelona to signing David Beckham, Perez paired them with existing talents like Roberto Carlos and Iker Casillas. Zidane and Ronaldo were the ultimate finishing touches to a squad destined for greatness.

Ronaldo on his worst teammate

While he was full of praise for Zidane, Ronaldo didn’t shy away from naming the worst teammate he ever had. Without hesitation, he pointed to Danish midfielder Thomas Gravesen. “A really funny guy, but as a footballer, he was a disaster,” Ronaldo remarked. “His only skill was hitting the ball really hard—nothing else”.

That Spanish squad featured a host of Barcelona stars, including Andres Iniesta, who cemented his place in history with an extra-time winner in the World Cup final against the Netherlands. According to Zidane, the Ballon d’Or that year should have gone to Iniesta.

Speaking in 2018 during a Real Madrid press conference after a training session, Zidane—then serving as the club’s head coach—praised Iniesta’s brilliance and lamented the oversight.

“I admired his style of play, and he never won a Ballon d’Or, but he deserved one. He should have won it the year he won the World Cup. He had an exceptional year, won the World Cup, and scored the goal in the final. It’s obvious he deserved it,” Zidane remarked.

That year, Barcelona won LaLiga but fell short in the Champions League. Messi, however, claimed the top scorer titles in both competitions and ultimately took home the Ballon d’Or, even though Argentina was eliminated in the World Cup quarterfinals by Germany. Iniesta finished second on the list, while Xavi secured third place

France Football’s apology to Iniesta

In 2018, as Andres Iniesta announced his retirement, Pascal Ferré, the editor of France Football—the organization behind the Ballon d’Or—issued a rare public apology to the Spanish midfielder.

“Forgive us, Andres,” Ferré wrote in an editorial. “To us, he wasn’t just a player; he was the player. His sacrifices for his team ultimately cost him greater individual recognition. Of all the names absent from the Ballon d’Or winners’ list, his is particularly painful. He’s the greatest facilitator in the history of the game”.

In closing, Ferré captured Iniesta’s brilliance with a simple observation. “While most of his contemporaries struggled, he made the game look effortless for 15 years. Without vanity, he simply focused on bringing the game to life,” he added.

Iniesta reflects on the Ballon d’Or snub

In 2022, during an interview on Jordi Wild’s The Wild Project YouTube channel, Iniesta was candid when asked if he felt the Ballon d’Or was something the world owed him.

“No. I mean that sincerely. If someone says they play to win those awards, that’s fine. Would I have liked to win one? Of course. But it’s not something I feel is missing in my life,” Iniesta explained. “I’ve never been too focused on individual awards, even though I’ve won some. It’s not something that was ever deeply ingrained in me”.

Speaking with El Objetivo on La Sexta, the 25-year-old opened up about his emotional connection to Real Madrid and the legends who influenced his journey.

“It was because of Zidane. As a Frenchman, he’s an idol,” Mbappé shared. “I became a fan of Zizou when he signed with the Galácticos. This is the best club in the world—it has an aura that no other club has. Then Cristiano arrived, my other idol, and I followed every single match. Even if you’re not a Madrid fan, you watch their games. First it was a dream, then a goal… now it’s a reality.”

Mbappé also recalled his first encounter with Zidane during a trial visit to Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training complex. “I was 13 years old and didn’t speak Spanish. The only person I could talk to was Zidane. Spending a week there was unforgettable. I knew I would come back one day.”

Chemistry with Vinícius Jr. and debunking ego rumors

The transition into Madrid’s locker room has been smoother than many anticipated. Rumors swirled around potential ego clashes with stars like Vinícius Jr., but Mbappé put those to rest, describing a healthy dynamic and budding friendship.

“My relationship with Vinícius is great,” he said. “It’s normal that people want to talk about us—we’re both high-profile—but I can’t imagine Madrid without him. I came here with the idea of playing alongside him.”

He also mentioned how warmly he was welcomed by the soccer squad. “I already knew the French players, and everyone else was sending me welcome messages. The locker room embraced me right away.”

Ancelotti’s leadership: a perfect fit

Mbappé offered high praise for Real Madrid’s head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, crediting the Italian tactician for fostering a balanced and winning environment. “He’s a bit of everything—father figure, boss, friend, coach,” Mbappé said. “He’s a legendary manager who has already made history here. It’s a blessing to have someone like him guiding us.”

As the season nears its decisive stretch, Mbappé seems fully bought into the Madrid project—not just for the trophies, but for the legacy he aims to build in the white shirt.

Manchester United icon Roy Keane weighed in on the discussion, sharing his top three players of all time during an 2022 appearance on Sky Sports. Surprisingly, the former United captain left both Messi and Pelé off his list. “[Diego] Maradona has to be up there,” Keane said. “Cristiano Ronaldo as well, and I’d put Zinedine Zidane,” he continued, rounding out his top three.

Keane, who played nearly 500 matches, won 17 titles, and captained United during much of the Sir Alex Ferguson tenure, elaborated on why Zidane made his list.

“[Zidane] was incredible. I had the pleasure of playing against him. A brilliant player, disgustingly good. He scored goals, won big trophies—you couldn’t compete with him,” Keane explained.

Jamie Carragher offers a different take

Keane’s comments came during a conversation with fellow pundit and former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher. Carragher, however, had a different view, including Lionel Messi in his own top three.

“In mine, it has to be [Lionel] Messi,” Carragher said. “[Diego] Maradona, for what he did in ’86. I was a kid, and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” he continued. Carragher then agreed with Keane on one point: “I have to agree with Roy—I’d put [Zinedine] Zidane in there too”.

Carragher went on to praise Zidane for his ability to deliver in high-pressure moments. “There are plenty of players from the modern era I think about, but Zidane, for what he did in big moments—the World Cup finals, his goal in the Champions League final, his performance at Euro 2000—he was special,” Carragher concluded.

The endless debate

Notably absent from both lists were legends like Johan Cruyff, Ronaldo Nazário, and Pelé. But the differing opinions from Keane and Carragher highlight that the question of soccer’s greatest is deeply subjective, shaped by personal experiences and what individuals value most in the game.

Although James Rodriguez did not leave Real Madrid on the best terms, he still shows strong feelings for the club. Now the captain of Colombia, James was interviewed by Edu Aguirre, who asked him to name the best player in the world. Instead of picking just one, James gave a ranking: Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior. However, he did not clarify whether this was a ranked list or just a selection with no particular order.

Despite Mohamed Salah‘s standout season at Liverpool, the Colombian star chose not to include him in his list. This season, the Egyptian forward has played 43 matches, scoring 32 goals and providing 22 assists, marking the best performance of his career.

Salah is now just one goal away from surpassing Sergio Aguero as the highest-scoring foreign player in Premier League history, with both players currently tied on 184 goals.

However, including Kylian Mbappe among the world’s best players is undoubtedly a success. Despite a slow start to the season, the French forward has seen a dramatic improvement in his form. In 43 appearances, he has netted 30 goals and provided 4 assists, playing a key role in Real Madrid’s advancement to the Champions League quarterfinals.

Are Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. worthy of being in the top three players this season?

While Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. remain key figures in Real Madrid’s long-term vision, neither is currently enjoying their best season. Both players firmly established themselves among the elite in world soccer last year. Bellingham, in particular, had an outstanding debut season, scoring 23 goals and providing 13 assists in 43 appearances.

Jude Bellingham‘s standout performances last season earned him widespread recognition as one of the best players of the year. However, this season, his focus has shifted away from goal-scoring, leading to some inconsistency in his displays. As a result, he has faced criticism from certain sections of the Real Madrid fanbase.

Similarly, Vinicius Junior, who was among the world’s top players last season, is enduring a rough patch this year. Criticized by his own supporters, he has been overshadowed by Kylian Mbappe‘s stellar form.

James Rodriguez shares surprising words for Zinedine Zidane after Real Madrid stint

James Rodriguez’s departure from Real Madrid was largely due to Zinedine Zidane‘s limited use of him, fueling rumors of a strained relationship between the two. However, James surprised many with a candid confession: “Zidane has always been my idol. Sometimes he would go into training and he had more quality than all of us.”

James denied any negative experiences with Zidane, offering a more reflective view on their time together: “When Zidane arrived, the press generated a lot of morbidity. Nothing happened to me with him, I wasn’t angry with him as it was said, but he found a great team in which I didn’t fit. I played with him but in key games he didn’t use me, he used Kroos, Casemiro and Modric and that’s respectable.“

Following a tough start to the 2024-25 season, Al Nassr have parted ways with head coach Luis Castro. The club are reportedly targeting Stefano Pioli as a top replacement. However, earlier reports from Marca suggest that Cristiano Ronaldo‘s preferred candidate was one of his former managers: Zinedine Zidane.

According to an article in the Spanish outlet from August 27, Ronaldo, who wasn’t happy with Castro’s performance, suggested Zidane as his “ideal candidate” for the position. This wouldn’t be the first time that Al Nassr have been interested in the French star and former Real Madrid coach.

Back in May 2023, it was reported that Zidane rejected an offer of $80 million a year. However, per Marca, Zidane, who left Real Madrid in 2021 after a second stint, wants to coach France’s national team when the time comes.

With Madrid, Zidane became the first coach to win the UEFA Champions League three times in a row. He also won UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup twice each, as well as two La Liga titles and two Spain’s Supercups.

While Zidane may be off the table, Stefano Pioli, who departed Milan after the 2023-24 season, is still a solid choice. Pioli took over the Rossoneri in 2019, ultimately guiding Milan to their long-awaited Scudetto in the 2021-22 season.

Al Nassr’s struggling start to the season

Al-Nassr were expected to shake things up after being runners-up in the Saudi Pro League last season, but at the start of the 2024-25 campaign, they suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to the reigning league champions in the Saudi Super Cup final.

The team opened the season with a 1-1 draw against Al Raed and, despite securing a 4-0 victory over Al Feiha on Matchday 2, dropped points again with a draw against Al Ahli in the third round. Their UFC Champions League Elite debut also ended in a 1-1 stalemate against Al Shorta, with Ronaldo sidelined due to a viral infection.

Despite these setbacks, Ronaldo has been in strong form, scoring four goals in just five appearances across all competitions. Al Nassr are keen to capitalize on his star power.

While many fans and pundits might mention names like Diego Maradona, Pele, Michel Platini, or Lionel Messi, Zidane had a different answer. For the Marseille-born star, Cristiano Ronaldo stands alone at the top.

Back in 2017, Zidane—who was coaching Real Madrid at the time—praised Ronaldo after the Portuguese forward claimed another Ballon d’Or, beating out Messi in what was then one of soccer’s fiercest rivalries. “Cristiano is the greatest player in the history of football. Many players have made history, but what he has achieved, no one else has done. The numbers are there, it’s truly impressive,” said Zidane.

Cristiano Ronaldo has surpassed the 900-goal milestone in his career, with his latest strike coming in Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Croatia in the UEFA Nations League. He now sits atop the all-time goal-scoring charts, with Lionel Messi trailing behind at 838 goals.

Zidane compares his career to Cristiano Ronaldo’s

During that same interview, Zidane playfully compared his own career to that of Cristiano Ronaldo. With a hint of irony, the French icon joked about their respective legacies.

“If you ask me, I was clearly better,” Zidane said with a laugh. “But you all know what I think—Cristiano is on another level, though I had a pretty good career too,” Zidane added with a big smile.

Cristiano Ronaldo sets sights on 1000 goals

Not content with just 900 career goals, Cristiano Ronaldo has set his next target: reaching 1,000 goals. In a recent video posted to his YouTube channel, UR Cristiano, the Portuguese forward shared his excitement over hitting the 900-goal mark and laid out his next ambition.

“I want to reach 1,000 goals. For me, that’s the most important thing. First 900, now my challenge is 1,000,” said Ronaldo, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar. If anyone can achieve that milestone, it’s likely to be CR7.

The former icon of Real Madrid was seen running through the streets of Paris trying to bring the fire, but, in a shocking turn of events, got stucked in the famous ‘Metro’ (subway) of Paris.

As a consequence, many people around the world started to wonder if he could be the chosen personality to light the cauldron in the final minutes of the most awaited sporting event of the year.

Who will light the cauldron at 2024 Paris Olympics?

As a consequence, many theories have surfaced on social media including Zinedine Zidane. After being stuck in the French subway, he might escape to deliver the final boost.

Since 2021, Zidane has been on a sort of sabbatical, despite having his name thrown in the pot of various teams, the legendary playmaker has taken his time picking his next destination.

Now according to French outlet L’Équipe, Zidane is reportedly narrowing down his choices for his next job between Manchester United and Bayern Munich.

Zinedine Zidane on what could be his next manager’s job

While the report suggests that Zinedine Zidane is one of the candidates for Bayern Munich, the language barrier and living in Munich are not appealing to Zidane.

Manchester United on the other hand is the job that reportedly Zidane “prefers”. GFFN reports that Ineos, the group that owns 25% of the club along with the head of football operations with Sir Jim Ratcliffe are “keen” to bring the Frenchman on board.

Earlier this year, the video game FIFA underwent a huge transformation. EA Sports terminated its association with soccer’s largest governing body, opting to carry on with this successful product under a new name.

Despite losing the name, the essence of the video game remains unchanged. Each week, the company unveils a new promotion featuring modified card stats, and this week, Erling Haaland emerges as the most coveted item.

Haaland and Zidane, the new stars of the Ultimate Dynasties promo in EA FC 24

One of EA Sports’ primary priorities has been to stay updated and maintain freshness in their games. With EA Sports FC, formerly known as FIFA, they achieve this by regularly creating new cards for fans. These cards feature increased stats, enhancing the players’ performance during games.

Despite FIFA no longer existing, EA Sports FC continued with gameplay that remains largely unchanged. The Ultimate Team mode stands as the game’s most successful feature, and it’s the company’s approach to keeping it constantly updated that truly captivates gamers.

A new promotion has just landed in the Ultimate Team stores, and it’s quite intriguing. ‘Ultimate Dynasties’ showcases related players within soccer, like Lauren and Reese James or Juliane Wirtz and her brother Florian.

However, this promo doesn’t solely feature brothers. Erling Haaland makes an appearance alongside his cousin Jonatan Braut-Brunes, also a striker at OH Leuven.

Despite his impressive 94 overall rating, Haaland isn’t the highest-rated player in this promo. EA Sports has introduced new cards for icons, placing Zinedine Zidane at the top of the list with a stunning 95 overall rating.

Regarding the icons, seven players have been featured in this promo: Zidane, Paolo Maldini, Rivaldo, Gheorghe Hagi, Patrick Kluivert, Juan Sebastian Veron, and Henrik Larsson. The latter five mentioned have two cards, one with a lower rating.

Which is the highest-rated player in EA Sports FC 24?

At present, two cards boast a 95 overall rating: Pele and Zinedine Zidane (Dynasty Icon). Surprisingly, the French legend’s item is currently more expensive, valued at 5.2 million coins.

As for non-icon players, Haaland currently holds two cards rated at 94 overall, putting him on par with Robert Lewandowski’s Champions League card. The Dynasty card featuring the Manchester City striker is presently valued at 3.3 million coins.