Sharing the pitch with one generational talent is special, but being team-mates with two is something most footballers can only dream of.

Former France international Youri Djorkaeff was among the fortunate few who played alongside two modern-day icons, representing both club and country with them.

With the French national team, Djorkaeff formed a formidable partnership with Zinedine Zidane. Yet, despite everything they achieved together, he admits that even Zidane does not quite measure up to one of his club team-mates.

Djorkaeff and Zidane featured together 49 times for France, a period during which the team captured back-to-back international titles — first the 1998 World Cup on home soil, followed by the European Championship two years later.

According to Djorkaeff, the duo carried forward a proud French tradition of producing world-class midfielders, with Zidane’s rise providing the final piece that transformed a talented side into world champions.

“It was extremely easy playing next to Zidane,” Djorkaeff told FourFourTwo. “France has always had a history of producing exceptional midfielders.

“I grew up watching the 1982 generation with Jean Tigana, and then 1986 with Michel Platini and Luis Fernandez. Zidane was the missing piece — the organiser the team needed.”

Djorkaeff also explained that the key to their success lay in how well they understood their respective roles.

“With his talent and vision, he served as the link between defence and attack. I operated more in the final third — I scored many goals from his assists, and he scored quite a few from mine.

“Our connection was one of the most important partnerships of that era.”

However, despite all the triumphs he enjoyed alongside Zidane, Djorkaeff does not hesitate when asked to choose between his national team partner and his former club team-mate at Inter Milan — the Brazilian striker Ronaldo.

Djorkaeff played 53 matches alongside Ronaldo for Inter Milan between 1997 and 1999, and he insists there is no doubt about who was the superior player.

“It may sound hard to believe, but the answer is simple: Ronaldo,” he said. “He was the best in the world. Even if you ask Zidane, I’m sure he’d say the same.”