Zidane (right) - star of Euro 2000. (Allsport)

By David Anderson, PA Sport

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Zinedine Zidane is not yet quite good enough to be mentioned in the same breath as greats such as Maradona, Pele or Cruyff, according to Jan Molby.

Molby was as enthralled as everyone else by Zidane's performances at Euro 2000 and the former Liverpool and Denmark star has no doubts that the Frenchman was the star of the tournament.

However Molby does not believe Zidane can be listed as one of the game's all-time greats.

"No, I don't think so," he said. "There's no doubt that he was the best player in the tournament and on current form he is the best player in the world.

"But if you look at guys like Cruyff, Pele and Maradona, then he is quite a bit off them. I just think he is just missing that little bit.

"Platini said that what he can do with a football, Maradona could do with an orange, which is a bit cruel.

"The pace of the game has become a lot faster since then and that's knocking Zidane a bit too much."

Molby argues that Zidane does not win trophies almost single-handed like the true greats did.

Zidane did score two headers in the World Cup Final, but he did not really impose himself on the Euro 2000 Final against Italy.

"If you look at last night that was a game where you were expecting a big performance from him," said Molby.

"He had come out of the World Cup on a high and the stage was set, but he didn't quite do it.

"He didn't really influence that game and the Italians were able to push him further and further back.

"For me he's still really to turn it in these big games, including Champions League Finals with Juventus.

"Great players win big games and the classic example of that was Maradona at the 1986 World Cup.

"He won that for Argentina more or less on his own and no-one remembers anyone else from that side.

"I think to become a truly great player Zidane must produce performances like that.

"I would like to see him taking games by the scruff of the neck more."

Molby's other criticism of Zidane is that he does not score enough goals.

The midfielder managed two in the championships and averages a goal every four games for France.

Molby believes this is not good enough for a player of his immense talent and reckons he should hit the back of the net more operating in his free role.

"I don't think he scores enough goals considering that he's playing in that free role," he said.

"He has great touch and skill and can play clever passes, but I think his goals return lets him down a bit.

"Scoring is obviously important and he doesn't weigh in with goals often enough.

"But he's still the best we've got at the moment, although compared to the greats, he's just that little bit short."