"?Hatem Ben Arfa has pledged to match the dizzying footballing heights Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have reached, "?Four Four Two report.
Since escaping Newcastle's clutches, Ben Arfa has enjoyed a career renaissance over in France with Nice.
The silky playmaker helped them achieve a top-four finish in Ligue 1 this season by racking up 17 goals and four assists.
The 29-year-old is now looking forward to the future and he believes he can match the achievements of the game's greatest superstars.
"I am far away from reaching the level of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but I still have a number of years to catch them" Ben Arfa told Les Parisien. "That is my goal.
"I am not at my best just yet. Everything is possible for me. I feel like I am 24 or 25. I am at an age where I have matured. I have developed and I am ready to take the next step.
"I have found a new strength. I have found peace and tranquility. I am still getting better and working hard to get there. I am convinced that I will get there.
"There are a lot of similarities between Messi and me, the way we dribble and look out there on the pitch. But we each have our own game.
"I am fully focused on football right now. I had a different focus before. This is all part of my development."
The Frenchman's contract with Nice expires in June and Lyon lead the list of clubs battling it out for his signature.
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