British Ambassador Sir Ivor Roberts presented the 38-year-old former Italy international with the award on behalf of the Queen.

Zola spent spent almost seven years at Chelsea and was admired by English crowds for his skill and technique, as well as his conduct both on and off the pitch.

"Words cannot express how I feel," said the veteran striker, who is now playing for his hometown club Cagliari in Serie A, Italy's first division.

"For me this is a huge honour that I dedicate to my parents and to the fans of Chelsea.

"I believe that the English public appreciated my behaviour on the pitch and my reserve off of it, but I could never have imagined the Queen would award me this way."

Zola admitted it was difficult leaving England, where he spent his most successful years.

"It was a real wrench leaving London and I only did it because I am Sardinian and I wanted to end my career on home soil," he added.

"If it wasn't for that I would still be living there, where I spent seven unforgettable years."

Zola signed for the English Premiership club in November 1996 in a 4.5 million pound (6.47 million euro) deal.

The following year Chelsea won the FA Cup and Zola was voted the English Football Writers' Player of the Year.

Twelve months later Chelsea won the English League Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup, in which he scored the winning goal.

Zola collected another FA Cup winners' medal in 2000 when Chelsea beat Aston Villa at Wembley.

He left Chelsea to join Cagliari for a second spell in July 2003 and helped them to promotion from Serie B.