Zinedine Zidane: 'I prefer Eden Hazard to Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi'

Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane has admitted that he takes more joy from watching Eden Hazard than he does Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 42-year-old, who is currently working as reserve team manager at Madrid, has only added further fuel to the fire linking the Belgian superstar with a move to the Bernabeu this summer.

Hazard is the runaway favourite to be crowned as the PFA Football of the Year later this week, and Zidane believes that the Chelsea forward is very much among the world's best.

"Obviously, there is Lionel Messi and Ronaldo, both of whom are spectacular, but I like Eden Hazard more," he told French publication Maxifoot. "I like everything he does on the field.

"I like his behaviour, his decisiveness and love to see his progress every year. There is still scope for further progress, and if Chelsea are to win the league this season, Eden will have had a lot to do with it."

Hazard has scored 18 goals for Chelsea this season in all competitions.