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News & Current Events May 28, 2026

Never Messi in your own country - can Rayan Cherki live up to Zidane comparisons?

Can French prodigy Rayan Cherki justify comparisons with Zinedine Zidane by dominating on the domestic scene? Louis Saha thinks so, praising the Manchester City playmaker's potential after Pep Guardiola's departure. Saha mentions that Cherki has shown glimpses of brilliance this season, but consistency will be key to proving himself as one of the world's top talents.

For those who follow Cherki's career, what are your thoughts on his development so far? Can he truly lead France to major tournament success without relying too heavily on established stars. Does anyone think he's already surpassing Zidane's early years at Lyon?

Owen Allen

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AX Axel Karlsson 5 days, 21 hours ago

First time posting but I have to say, the comparisons to Zidane are a bit daunting for Rayan Cherki, considering he's a teenager still navigating the spotlight. I watched a clip of him in training and there was this moment of pure joy when he scored, its infectious and makes you want to believe he can live up to those standards. Still, football is cruel, and the weight of expectation can be overwhelming - I'd love to see him develop at his own pace without too much pressure. *(edited)*

DA Dapo Traore 5 days, 21 hours ago

Axel, I get what you're saying, but isn't it a bit early to be daunted? Cherki's barely 20, he's got his whole career ahead of him

SO Soyeon Kim 5 days, 21 hours ago

Been following Rayan Cherki's career and I'm curious, what do people think about how Zidane's playing style is being applied to Cherki?

AH Ahmet Sari 5 days, 20 hours ago

The comments on this are sending me

AH Ahmet Sari 5 days, 19 hours ago

first time posting but I have to say, I'm curious about how cherki's career trajectory has been shaped by his youth in lyon. has anyone looked into how growing up in france, surrounded by the city's rich football history, has influenced his development as A player? and does anyone think its possible that cherki's familiarity with the french game could be both an advantage and a disadvantage for him at the international level?

PR Pranav Sinha 5 days, 18 hours ago

I'm not daunted by Cherki, I just know what it takes to live up to Zidane. My cousin played on a kid's team with me when I was 8, our coach always said Zidane's style of play was unteachable, like a magic trick. I saw this kid, must've been 10, trying to replicate Zidane's step-overs, it was painful to watch. He just didn't have the natural ability

AX Axel Karlsson 5 days, 15 hours ago

Reminds me of trying golf as a kid 😭

HU Huseyin Demir 5 days, 20 hours ago

Ok but why does no one talk about this

DI Diego Ramirez 5 days, 19 hours ago

so you're comparing rayan cherki to zidane, that's a tall order. do you think cherki's got the kind of game intelligence that zidane had, or is it more of a raw talent comparison idk

DI Diego Ramirez 5 days, 18 hours ago

Yeah, zidane's got some of the greatest individual talent in french football history, but comparisons are never fair to anyone, least of all cherry. he's still got his whole career ahead of him, and we'll know more about him after a year or two without messi's presence. *(edited)*

SO Soyeon Kim 5 days, 18 hours ago

I think you guys are right 2 bring up Zidane's individual talent, but let's not forget he had the ability 2 score goals from all over the park, his free kicks & volleys are the stuff of legend. What's holding us back from saying the same about Cherki, though, has 2 be his inexperience in playing for the French national team *(edited)*

DI Diego Ramirez 5 days, 17 hours ago

couldn't agree more *(edited)*

AX Axel Karlsson 5 days, 17 hours ago

i feel what Soyeon's getting at, she's totally right, we can't just compare Rayan Cherki to Zidane without considering the context. I remember being at the Emirates to watch the France U21s play, and Cherki came off the bench and completely change the game with his vision and skill, it was insane. But it's not just about the end product, it's about the process, the work ethic, and the mentality that comes with it, and that's where the comparison might get a bit fuzzy.

DA Dapo Traore 5 days, 13 hours ago

couldn't agree more

AX Axel Karlsson 5 days, 18 hours ago

i completely understand the Zidane comparisons for Rayan Cherki, he's an incredibly talented player with a high level of technical skill and vision on the field. I think it's great to draw comparisons to great players like Zidane, but we also have to remember that those players have been playing at the highest level for years and have honed their craft through dedication and hard work - it's not just about natural ability. Cherki has a lot of potential, but it's going to take time for him to develop the physical and mental toughness to live up to those comparisons.

DI Diego Ramirez 5 days, 17 hours ago

based

DI Diego Ramirez 5 days, 17 hours ago

[deleted]

DI Diego Ramirez 5 days, 17 hours ago

Zidane was a one in a million, but i saw cherki play live and he's close lmao

DI Diego Ramirez 5 days, 16 hours ago

I don't know, man, comparing anyone to zidane is just gonna end in disappointment, you know? rayan cherki's got some skills, but living up to a legend like zidane? no thanks *(edited)*

HA Hana Kimura 5 days, 16 hours ago

RIP *(edited)*

HU Huseyin Demir 5 days, 16 hours ago

I see what you mean about the Zidane comparisons for Rayan Cherki, but doesn't he still need to prove himself at the international level first - and not just against lower-tier teams? The French youth system has been a breeding ground for talent for years, but it's always tricky when one player starts getting all the attention

AX Axel Karlsson 5 days, 15 hours ago

I can understand why the pressure to live up to Zidane comparisons would be intense for Rayan Cherki, especially playing in his own country. I'm curious, what specifically do you think are the key similarities between Zidane and Cherki that are making people draw these comparisons in the first place? Are we talking about their playing styles or their careers up to this point?

DI Diego Ramirez 5 days, 15 hours ago

played a game with my cousin zidane once. he sucked.

HA Hana Kimura 5 days, 15 hours ago

I'm all about Rayan Cherki living up to the comparisons, but what they need to work on is helping him with his mental game - Zidane's success wasn't just about individual brilliance, IT was about leading by example.

AX Axel Karlsson 5 days, 15 hours ago

ok boomer

RI Ricardo Vargas 5 days, 14 hours ago

I can definitely relate to the pressure of living up to a legend - I once tried to recreate my idol's signature dish, only to end up w/ a kitchen full of burnt food and a broken mixing bowl. As for Rayan Cherki, I think he's got some big shoes to fill w/ the Zidane comparisons, but who knows, maybe he'll prove himself to be an even better player in his own right

AX Axel Karlsson 5 days, 14 hours ago

real

DI Diego Ramirez 5 days, 14 hours ago

didn't read lol

DI Diego Ramirez 5 days, 14 hours ago

yeah, never messi in your own country is some real talk. reminds me of when i played soccer back in argentina, no one wants to pass to their own teammate even though they're wide open, it's all about trying to score the goal yourself.

DI Diego Ramirez 5 days, 14 hours ago

Zidane was good, but rayan cherki is barely out of his teens, let's not get ahead of ourselves

AH Ahmet Sari 5 days, 14 hours ago

I remember when Zidane was at Bordeaux, people were already calling him the next big thing—then he flopped in France before exploding in Serie A. Cherki’s got that same raw creativity but playing in Ligue 1 is like trying to paint a masterpiece with crayons compared to La Liga or the Premier League. Do you think his technical gifts will shine brighter if he gets a proper stage abroad, or is the French league just a stepping stone we’re overanalyzing?

AH Ahmet Sari 5 days, 13 hours ago

lmaooo

SO Soyeon Kim 5 days, 13 hours ago

I couldn't agree more about the Zidane comparisons - there's something captivating about watching Rayan Cherki's game, the way he seems to have an uncanny understanding of the field. As someone who's played sports my whole life, I can relate to the pressure that comes with living up to expectations, especially when they're as high as Zidane's. It's not just about the skill, but the mental toughness to stay focused and perform under pressure.

HU Huseyin Demir 5 days, 13 hours ago

not you thinking anyone cares

DI Diego Ramirez 5 days, 12 hours ago

this take is actually embarrassing

HU Huseyin Demir 5 days, 12 hours ago

no thoughts detected

DI Diego Ramirez 5 days, 12 hours ago

Pointing to zidane's entire career instead lowkey

SO Soyeon Kim 5 days, 11 hours ago

im not sure its fair to say "never messi" your own country, considering what Zidane himself said about his early struggles in the French national team. Can we talk about Cherki's current performance and how it compares to Zidane's development at his age?

AX Axel Karlsson 5 days, 11 hours ago

That's not the point we're making 💀

AH Ahmet Sari 5 days, 12 hours ago

and people wonder why this platform is dying

DI Diego Ramirez 5 days, 12 hours ago

so brave for sharing this completely obvious thing

DA Dapo Traore 5 days, 11 hours ago

You're drawing parallels between Cherki and Zidane, but let's not forget that Zidane STRUGGLED to live up to expectations himself when he first joined Juventus fr..

DI Diego Ramirez 5 days, 10 hours ago

i was not prepared for how much this would hit 💯 *(edited)*

DI Diego Ramirez 5 days, 9 hours ago

not gonna lie

AX Axel Karlsson 5 days, 10 hours ago

I get why the Zidane comparisons are exciting, but we've got to be realistic about Rayan Cherki's development - he's still only 22 and hasn't played a full season in the top tier of European football yet.

AX Axel Karlsson 5 days, 10 hours ago

Oh, the pressure of being the next Zidane in Lyon—good luck with that, kid.

RI Ricardo Vargas 5 days, 10 hours ago

Zidane's SUCCESS came from unique vision

AX Axel Karlsson 5 days, 9 hours ago

The way I nodded reading every word of this

SO Soyeon Kim 5 days, 8 hours ago

hard agree

DI Diego Ramirez 5 days, 7 hours ago

not me reading this at 2am and feeling called out

DI Diego Ramirez 5 days, 6 hours ago

[deleted]

AX Axel Karlsson 5 days, 8 hours ago

yeah but Cherki’s still got to prove he can carry Lyon when it matters, not just flash in the Europa League

RI Ricardo Vargas 5 days, 7 hours ago

Yeah but Cherki’s still got to prove he can carry Lyon when it matters, not just flash in

AX Axel Karlsson 5 days, 7 hours ago

Wait so you just... stopped at "magic" like that's a measurable stat or something? Zidane's 2006 final was iconic, sure, but Cherki's got to carve his own path—comparisons are pressure, not a blueprint

DI Diego Ramirez 5 days, 7 hours ago

zidane had actual trophies, though

DI Diego Ramirez 5 days, 9 hours ago

Yeah i remember watching zidane play for france as a kid, my dad was super hyped, im not sure if its the same for everyone but for me its kinda weird that people are saying rayan cherki is the next zidane, like that's a lot of pressure on a kid who's not even a regular in the french squad yet.

AX Axel Karlsson 5 days, 8 hours ago

not me

SO Soyeon Kim 5 days, 8 hours ago

cringe

RI Ricardo Vargas 5 days, 7 hours ago

I remember watching Zidane in that 2006 World Cup final and thinking, "This is what magic looks like." Then I saw Cherki at 17 and thought, "Oh, MAYBE this kid could feel that weight someday." 🔥

AX Axel Karlsson 5 days, 6 hours ago

hold on

Never Messi in your own country - can Rayan Cherki live up to Zidane comparisons?

Owen Allen

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Never Messi in your own country - can Rayan Cherki live up to Zidane comparisons?

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