Thierry Henry says Arsenal pal Cesc Fabregas can be as good as Wayne Rooney or Ronaldinho.
Henry, 28, said: "Cesc is an amazing talent. You don't often see players of that age with so much ability.
"Wayne Rooney was one and maybe Ronaldinho when he was younger. I hope for Cesc that he can have as successful a career.
"He has come on extremely well this season and you always see more of him when we play with five in the midfield.
"He has the nose to get into the box, knows when to join the attacks and when he has time on the ball.
"If you let him play he can kill a team right there."
But Henry warns against placing too great a burden on Fabregas' slender shoulders.
The French striker added: "I have always had huge faith in Cesc. But at the start of the season he wasn't playing that well and I remember people were having a go at him.
"Now he is performing fantastically and suddenly people are saying he is a genius and asking if he can become the best midfielder in the world.
"But if in a year's time he is not playing quite so well the same people will be asking 'What's happened to him?'. The important thing now is we must not go too far and get carried away. Cesc is doing extremely well and we just have to let him grow up and get on with it.
"But Cesc has already shown he can cope with all those expectations. You have some young players who have a strop if you have a go at them. But Cesc can handle it.
"I have always said Cesc is only a teenager in his body but in his head he is already old.
"You can see that just from the way he plays and handles himself. That is going to be a help throughout his career."
Henry, 28, said: "Cesc is an amazing talent. You don't often see players of that age with so much ability.
"Wayne Rooney was one and maybe Ronaldinho when he was younger. I hope for Cesc that he can have as successful a career.
"He has come on extremely well this season and you always see more of him when we play with five in the midfield.
"He has the nose to get into the box, knows when to join the attacks and when he has time on the ball.
"If you let him play he can kill a team right there."
But Henry warns against placing too great a burden on Fabregas' slender shoulders.
The French striker added: "I have always had huge faith in Cesc. But at the start of the season he wasn't playing that well and I remember people were having a go at him.
"Now he is performing fantastically and suddenly people are saying he is a genius and asking if he can become the best midfielder in the world.
"But if in a year's time he is not playing quite so well the same people will be asking 'What's happened to him?'. The important thing now is we must not go too far and get carried away. Cesc is doing extremely well and we just have to let him grow up and get on with it.
"But Cesc has already shown he can cope with all those expectations. You have some young players who have a strop if you have a go at them. But Cesc can handle it.
"I have always said Cesc is only a teenager in his body but in his head he is already old.
"You can see that just from the way he plays and handles himself. That is going to be a help throughout his career."
