REVEALED: Karim Benzema Names His Idol and Claims Zinedine Zidane Offers a Lot

Real Madrid striker and France international has revealed that his childhood hero was the Brazilian forward Ronaldo, while also heaping praise on current manager Zinedine Zidane.

Benzema, 28, has performed brilliantly for Los Blancos since he signed from Lyon in 2009, and has found the net 156 times in 304 appearances for the club, winning both the Champions League and La Liga once.

Ronaldo also featured for Real Madrid during his incredible playing career, and was a revelation for Madrid, rifling in 104 goals in 177 appearances despite battling injuries and weight issues along the way.

Speaking to Bwin's website, Benzema hailed Ronaldo as the best player of all time and still says he watches footage of the striker to take tips, while also telling the world that Zinedine Zidane has settled in well to life as a manager.

​"When I was younger, the way the Brazilian Ronaldo played had an influence on me," Benzema said ."For me he's the best striker and the best player of all-time."I watch videos of him, and try to do what he does, but it's not easy. It's impossible to pull off the same moves as he did.

"He (Zidane) was a top player and now he's a good coach, with a lot of experience. He offers the team a lot, he gives us confidence, gives us his ideas on how to play, and that's all positive for us.

"My team-mates and I are learning from him every day because we know that he was a great player, and that he knows a lot about the game."

Real Madrid will probably fail to claim back the La Liga title this season barring a collapse from Barcelona, with the Catalan side four points clear of Madrid with a game in hand over their fierce rivals.

Madrid's next fixture comes in the Champions League, which is a more realistic prospect, and they will face AS Roma.