Fox Sports pundit Zlatan Ibrahimovic named a World Cup legend as the greatest footballer ever – but his choice was not reigning champion Lionel Messi.
The former Sweden star only ever made five appearances in international football's most illustrious competition, despite being considered one of the greatest strikers of all time, but has chosen one of the most dominant individuals in World Cup history as soccer's ultimate GOAT.
Messi, who lifted the World Cup with Argentina in 2022, is widely considered to be the greatest footballer in the sport's history, but Ibra holds an alternative point of view.
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic
During an interview with beIN Sports in 2021, Ibrahimovic stated that two-time World Cup winner Ronaldo Nazario was his pick for the best player the sport has ever seen, with the 43-year-old even describing the Brazilian as the embodiment of football.
"I always tell everyone who plays with me: Ronaldo is football. That Ronaldo is football. The way he moved, the way he did those stepovers, those mazy runs. In my view, he is the best player in history, no doubt about it."
'R9' won the World Cup with Brazil in 1994 and 2002, while he also reached the final in 1998. Overall, from 19 World Cup appearances he scored 15 goals, provided five assists and won 16 games.
It's possible that Ibrahimovic's view may have changed since 2021, considering Messi won the only accolade that was missing from his career honours list when Argentina lifted the World Cup crown four years ago.
But there is a reason Ronaldo is monikered as 'O Fenomeno' (The Phenomenon), and Zlatan appeared certain in his view that R9, rather than Messi, personified football itself.
Ronaldo Nazario and Zlatan Ibrahimovic Compared
ronaldo nazario 2002 world cup
There are, interestingly, a number of similarities between the careers of Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic. Both players first made their name in European football in the Netherlands, with Ronaldo doing so at PSV and Ibrahimovic at Ajax. They also later represented three of the same clubs – Inter Milan, Barcelona, and AC Milan.
When it comes to trophies, both are counted among the best players to have never lifted the Champions League. However, it was Ibrahimovic who ended his career with the greater haul of team honours, winning 32 in total compared with Ronaldo's 16.
Sadly, the two never got the opportunity to play together. Ronaldo departed AC Milan two years before Ibrahimovic arrived at the red and black side of the city.