BERLIN (AFP) — Bayern Munich's French midfielder Franck Ribery admitted on Sunday he is flattered by comparisons to Zinedine Zidane, but wants to match his compatriot's achievements to be worthy of such praise.
"It is an enormous honour to be compared to Zinedine Zidane," said Ribery in Sunday's edition of Die Welt.
"He is a huge player, perhaps the biggest in history.
"I want to try to achieve the same things he did."
Since his arrival in Munich last July, Ribery, 24, has earned superstar status at Bayern with a string of high level performances and has won over many fans.
Bayern captain Oliver Kahn was the first to compare him to Zidane earlier this month, but so far former Galatasary-star Ribery has only a German League Cup and a Turkish Cup winners medal to show for his efforts.
In comparison, Zidane won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with his country, while lifting the 2002 Champions League title and two Spanish championships with Real Madrid.
His personal awards list is also impressive - along with Ronaldo he is one of only two players to be voted three-time FIFA World Player of the Year when he was named in 1998, 2000 and 2003.
He was European Footballer of the Year in 1998 and in 2004 fans voted him top in UEFA's fiftieth-anniversary Golden Jubilee Poll.
But Bayern star Ribery insists he just wants to "concentrate on doing well at Bayern" where he is contracted until 2011 with a host of top European clubs wanting to sign him."
"I want to fulfill my mission and do well, everyone is happy with the way I am playing. What happens in the future, we will have to wait and see," added the Frenchman.
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