Topics: Zinedine Zidane, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid
Zinedine Zidane snubbed Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo when naming the two players that make him 'jump out of his seat'.
The legendary former Real Madrid and France midfielder has only had two roles since stepping into professional club management - both of those being with Real.
Zidane managed Ronaldo during his first stint at the Bernabeu, during which time the Portugal legend won the Ballon d'Or in 2017.
But perhaps surprisingly, the Frenchman named two other Ballon d'Or winners - and Ronaldo's former Real Madrid team-mates - when picking the two players who made him 'jump out of his seat' during matches.
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Speaking to Telefoot in June 2023, Zidane explained: "If there's a player who still makes me jump out of my seat, it's Karim Benzema, maybe even Luka Modric.
"They are players who, when you think they're about to lose the ball, always manage to get away with it.
"They're the ones who drive me crazier than others, the ones who make the difference for those who are lucky enough to have them."
At the time of Zidane's interview, Benzema was the reigning Ballon d'Or winner and had only recently became a former Real Madrid player.
The Frenchman joined Al Ittihad as part of that summer's exodus of high-profile European players to the Saudi Pro League.
Now 37 years of age, Benzema has scored 16 goals in 22 league appearances this season and has a contract with Al Ittihad that runs until next summer - meaning his European football career appears to be over.
Modric, meanwhile, is still part of Real's squad at the age of 39, though the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner's role has been reduced slightly in the past couple of seasons.
According to Relevo, the Croatia midfielder wants to remain at the Bernabeu until beyond his 40th birthday, and wishes to continue with his rolling 12-month contract - a policy Real use for extending the stays of any of their players over the age of 30.
