Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a retired soccer player known for his impressive skills during his career. The Swedish striker played for famous clubs like Barcelona, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain. At his peak, he was often compared to top players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ibrahimovic was characterized by his strong confidence, frequently claiming to be one of the best players. However, many people do not consider him the greatest player in soccer history, despite his own assertions.
A recent viral video from the official UEFA Champions League account featured Ibrahimovic being challenged to speak only if he heard the name of a player he believed was better than him. True to form, he stayed silent throughout, which sparked discussions.
By not naming any competitor, Ibrahimovic indicated that he sees no one as his superior, not even Messi or Ronaldo, who are often hailed as the best ever. This prompted a lot of reactions and discussions online.
The video mentioned several names, including Sergio Aguero, Edinson Cavani, Wayne Rooney, Didier Drogba, Robert Lewandowski, Luis Suarez, Karim Benzema, and finally Messi and Ronaldo. However, for Zlatan, none of these players could take the top spot.
Ibrahimovic once named the greatest player in the world
Even with his typical confidence, Ibrahimovic has occasionally picked someone else as the best player. Interestingly, that choice was not one of those listed in UEFA’s viral video.
Though many might think he would choose legends like Pele, Diego Maradona, or current stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic surprised many by choosing Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario.
“O Fenomeno… I don’t even need to describe him. I’ve always said there are players who play soccer and others who are soccer. For me, Ronaldo is soccer. When you watched him, you wanted to be like him and play like him—the way he moved, his change of pace, his dribbling. It was incredible. For me, without a doubt, he’s the best in history,” Ibrahimovic said in a 2021 interview with UEFA, showing his respect for the Brazilian great.