Key Takeaways
- Louis Saha describes Cristiano Ronaldo as a ‘cyborg’ and the most complete player he has ever played alongside
- The former France striker names Sylvain Distin as the most underrated player of his generation, questioning his lack of international caps
- Saha believes his traditional number nine style would offer a different option in the current France squad
Former Manchester United and France forward Louis Saha has hailed Cristiano Ronaldo as a “cyborg” and the most complete footballer he has shared a pitch with. The retired striker, who played alongside legends such as Zinedine Zidane and Wayne Rooney, believes no other player matches the Portuguese star’s unique blend of physical and mental attributes.
Speaking exclusively to Get French Football News, Saha explained that while Zidane possessed magical charisma, Ronaldo represents the perfect template for a modern athlete. The former Everton and Tottenham hitman praised the Al-Nassr captain’s height, explosive speed, stamina, technical skill, and leadership qualities as unmatched in world football.
“He has the physique of an elite athlete, the speed of a sprinter, and the endurance to maintain top performance,” Saha noted. “When you combine this with his technical ability, strength, and high football intelligence, you create the ideal player.”
The 45-year-old also identified former Manchester City and Everton defender Sylvain Distin as the most underrated colleague from his career. Saha expressed confusion over Distin’s failure to earn a single senior cap for France despite competing at the highest level in England for many seasons.
“Distin played more Premier League matches than almost any other French player, yet he never received international recognition,” Saha stated. He suggested that Distin lacked the self-promotion skills of rivals such as William Gallas and Mikaël Silvestre, which may have cost him selection opportunities.
Saha additionally praised former Tottenham captain Ledley King as a “legend” for his ability to perform at the highest level despite serious physical limitations.
Regarding his own prospects in the current French setup, Saha acknowledged that his traditional centre-forward style differs from the flexible approach favoured by manager Didier Deschamps. With Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Marcus Thuram leading the attack, Saha suggested he would offer a different option similar to Olivier Giroud’s role.