Zidane: Steven Gerrard Was the Best Player in the World
French football legend Zinedine Zidane once described Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard as the best player in the world.
Zidane, known as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, made this bold statement back in 2009. At that time, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were dominating world football, but Zidane still picked Gerrard for special praise.
Speaking about the Liverpool captain’s influence, Zidane said:
“I think he just might be the best in the world. If you don’t have a player like Steven Gerrard, who is the engine room, it can affect the whole team.”
Gerrard played a key role in Liverpool’s success, especially during their famous 5-0 win on aggregate against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Zidane, who enjoyed great success with Real Madrid, compared Gerrard’s importance to that of Claude Makelele in his own team, saying players like them are rare:
“You can’t learn that. Players like him are just born with that presence,” he added.
Zidane’s praise shows how much respect Gerrard earned across the football world—not just for his skills, but also for his leadership and impact on the pitch.
