Cole told TNT Sports: "I think he sits above everyone. I really do. And I include Frank (Lampard), and Scholesy (Paul Scholes) and Stevie (Gerrard) and everyone.
"I think he's I think he's moving up and they are great players of their time and it's always difficult to compare eras because the game the rules change the pitch has changed the ball has changed, the training methods, everything changes, but he's certainly the best of this era and he's just outstanding."
On De Bruyne's first goal, Cole said: "The quality it takes to hit it coming across with your weak foot coming across, and he has a little stride in it and slows himself down. The decision and then just the straight leg just to put it in like that, that just sort of a tad of violence there.
"It's beautiful. I mean, he is the godfather of attacking midfielders in world football I still think he's the best at the bunch."