Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff feels he is '2-0 up' in his battle against lung cancer

Former Barcelona and Ajax star Johan Cruyff feels like he is "2-0 up in a match" against lung cancer. The 68-year-old legend was diagnosed with the illness in October last year, but has revealed he is making "very positive" progress.

The three-time Ballon d'Or winner is optimistic about his health based on the feedback he has received from doctors. "The results have been very positive thanks to the excellent work of the doctors, the affection of the people and my positive mentality," the former Barcelona player and manager said, according to the BBC.

"Right now, I have the feeling that I am 2-0 up in the first half of a match that has not finished yet. But I am sure I will end up winning."

Cruyff is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time and enjoyed huge success in management, too. He won consecutive La Liga titles from 1990-91 to 1993-94, while he also led Barcelona to the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1989.

In 1991, Cruyff had double heart bypass surgery and famously gave up smoking following the operation. He later appeared in an advert in which he said: "Football has given me everything in life, tobacco almost took it all away."