1998 FIFA World Cup Winner Explains Why Jude Bellingham Is Not As Good as Zinedine Zidane

• Ex-France defender, Frank Leboeuf has weighed in on the comparisons being drawn between Jude Bellingham and Zinedine Zidane
• The 1998 World Cup winner insists Bellingham is not on the same level as Zidane
• Meanwhile, the Englishman has declared himself fit ahead of his highly-anticipated first El Clasico

Frank Leboeuf has offered his perspective on the comparisons between Jude Bellingham and Zinedine Zidane amid the Englishman's impressive start to life at Real Madrid.

Since his transition from Borussia Dortmund to Madrid this summer, Bellingham has swiftly established himself, securing a remarkable 11 goals and three assists across various competitions for Los Blancos, a feat that echoes the goal-scoring achievements of the renowned Cristiano Ronaldo.

His exceptional performances and game-changing contributions have also triggered parallels with the esteemed figure of Zinedine Zidane within the realms of Madrid's football legacy.

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It is noteworthy that Bellingham, who is in contention for the 2023 Golden Boy Award, has modelled his style of play after the French maestro, openly describing Zidane as the greatest player ever, per Tribuna.

Emulating Zidane's legacy, Bellingham has even donned the iconic No.5 jersey.

However, Leboeuf, a former teammate of Zidane during their triumphant journey to clinch the 1998 FIFA World Cup, acknowledged Bellingham's remarkable performances, but emphasized that the two players cannot be equated on certain levels.

"In terms of maturity for the age, I would say yes. In terms of technique, I’m sorry, Zizou [Zidane] was unbelievable," he said on ESPNFC, as cited by Sportskeeda.

"I think Jude can get the pace in his game. Zizou wasn’t that fast, but he was clever. For me, they are not the same players. Body shape is not the same, technique is not the same, but yes, the talent is there."

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Bellingham tipped to become next Messi

Meanwhile, the young talent's remarkable performances have garnered recognition from former Italy coach, Arrigo Sacchi, who lauded Bellingham's world-class abilities and expressed his belief in the player's potential to reach the heights of Lionel Messi, as noted by Sports Brief.

With an impressive tally of 10 goals in his initial 10 outings for Real Madrid, Bellingham stands as a leading contender for the prestigious Golden Boy award in 2023.

Bellingham declares himself fit for El Clasico

Sports Brief also reported that Real Madrid fans can breathe a sigh of relief as Jude Bellingham has reassured them about his availability for the upcoming first El Clasico of the 2023/24 season.

According to reports in Spain, the Englishman has confirmed his return to training with the rest of the Real Madrid squad on Friday, hinting at his readiness for the anticipated match.