Former Crystal Palace manager Frank De Boer has stated that Wilfried Zaha is comparable to Lionel Messi when in form.

The Ivory Coast star is a major reason why Crystal Palace are still in the Premier League.

He already has three goals in six Premier League games. Now he has earned praise from De Boer, who managed the player during his brief stint at the club last season.

"What he (Zaha) has is a half step, you think as a defender you're going to touch the ball but he's so quick with it, he can make a half step, that he touches it with his other leg and you think you have the ball and you kick him," said De Boer on Sky Sports.

"(He is) like Messi, always every pass or every step he can touch the ball, right foot or left foot, Zaha has that same quality, every step he can touch the ball and then you get a lot of kicks.

"One against one he's unbelievable, so quick in the first ten metres, inside, outside. A good Zaha is almost unstoppable in my opinion."