Ribery Dreams of Emulating Zidane

Ribery offered depressing news to French clubs by ruling out a return to France.

France's Franck Ribery, enjoying a superb season with his Bayern Munich club, said his goal was to become as great as Zinedine Zidane.

"I'll do everything I can for that," the attacking midfielder told French sports daily L'Equipe when asked whether he believed he could eventually match retired France playmaker Zidane, one of the sport's all-time greats.

"Up to now I'm satisfied with myself," Ribery said in an interview published on Tuesday. "I'm still a long way from Zidane but I have many years ahead of me."

The 24-year-old, who helped France reach the final of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, has reached a new dimension since joining Bayern from Olympique Marseille last year.

His unique skills, playmaking ability and taste for splendid goals have made him the darling of Bayern fans and German media.

"If I stay at this level and play a good European Championship, this could be a great year for me," he said, adding that the Ballon d'Or, formerly known as the European Footballer of the Year award, was on his mind.

"I'm thinking about it," he said. "I'm a player who wants to win everything and, if possible, even the Ballon d'Or."

Ribery offered depressing news to French clubs by ruling out a return to France.

"I can't see myself playing for a French club again, even for (six-times champions and Ligue 1 leaders Olympique) Lyon," he said. "Here (at Bayern), everything is so well organised. You just can't compare."