REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Scott Brown has played against some of the hardest Scottish footballers in history but he believes Zlatan Ibrahimovic was tougher than one of the Tartan Army's iconic brutes.
The one and only time the pair clashed came back in October 2020 when Celtic met AC Milan in the UEFA Europa League group stage. Brown and the Bhoys suffered a 3-1 defeat at home to the Italian giants but they did manage to keep Ibrahimovic at bay.
Brown and Ibrahimovic ended that game without a booking, somewhat surprising given their track record of disciplinary issues. There were occasions when they battled for the ball and it seems the Swede did enough to secure his place in the Scot's list of football's hardmen.
Scott Brown Backed Ibrahimovic Over Scottish Great
Image source: Reuters/Action Images
Ibrahimovic spent his career wowing fans with his incredible agility and aerial prowess, using his six-foot-five inch frame to cause havoc. But it wasn't just in front of goal where the former Paris Saint-Germain striker thrived as he loved nothing more than getting under his opponent's skin.
Brown gave his thoughts on the Swede when ranking the hardest men in football history ahead of this summer's World Cup. He explained why the legendary frontman would get the better of a feisty Scotsman, telling BBC Sport:
Brown suggested that he'd based his opinion on modern times and it's hard to argue against Ibrahimovic coming out on top in a brawl with Souness. But back in the iconic Scot's day he'd certainly give the Swede a run for his money.
Souness is regarded as one of the most talented players to emerge from Scotland, becoming a world-class midfielder. He blended elegance on the ball with an aggressive mentality, not afraid to put his body on the line for his team.
Both Souness and Ibrahimovic are enigmatic characters and while they talk the talk, they more than walked the walk during their careers. Physically, the former Manchester United striker does hold the advantage, but what the Liverpool legend lacked in physical strength he made up for in bravery.
'A Manager's Dream' - Souness Loved Ibrahimovic's Attitude
Graeme Souness ahead of Scotland v England
Football's hardmen are usually at loggerheads on and off the pitch, as was the case whenever Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira went toe to toe during the noughties. Now that their careers are over, they have put their past bad blood behind them and amicably worked together as pundits.
Souness and Ibrahimovic didn't share the pitch during their playing days but both used their winning mentalities to raise the standards of their teammates. United turned to the striker under the order of Jose Mourinho back in 2016 and he quickly lived up to expectations at Old Trafford.
Ibrahimovic's debut campaign went down extremely well with Souness who called for him to win the 2016-17 Player of the Year award. He said on Sky Sports:
Scott Brown, Roy Keane, Thomas Gravesen looking angry in Celtic kit with Celtic theme background
Scott Brown, Roy Keane, Thomas Gravesen looking angry in Celtic kit with Celtic theme background
Ibrahimovic didn't get enough time in English football to show Premier League fans why he is up there with the toughest players in football history. But throughout his career he scrapped it out with some British hardmen, including Joey Barton in Ligue 1.