When conversations flip to the best gamers in soccer historical past, names like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominate the talk. With numerous information, Ballon d’Or trophies, and worldwide triumphs, the Argentine and Portuguese superstars have outlined an period. But Zlatan Ibrahimović, one of many sport’s most prolific and charismatic forwards, believes his profession needs to be rated above theirs—even with out successful a Champions League, a Ballon d’Or, or a World Cup.
Ibrahimović retired with 511 targets and 202 assists in 866 video games, amassing 32 trophies throughout golf equipment comparable to Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester United.
His longevity and talent to reach practically each league he performed in is unmatched. Regardless of this extraordinary résumé, few analysts or followers persistently place him within the high 10 all-time greats, one thing that clearly fuels Zlatan’s aggressive fireplace.
Zlatan vs. the legends
In a UEFA Champions League social media function, Ibrahimović was requested to remark when the names of nice forwards have been talked about. From Sergio Agüero to Edinson Cavani, Wayne Rooney, Didier Drogba, Robert Lewandowski, Luis Suárez, Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, and at last Lionel Messi, Zlatan stayed silent. The message was clear: in his thoughts, none of them surpassed him.
Zlatan Ibrahimović scored a complete of twenty-two targets in 45 official matches with F.C. Barcelona in the course of the 2009/10 season.
His stance is daring, contemplating his résumé lacks the celebrated titles which have outlined Ronaldo’s and Messi’s legacies. Nonetheless, Ibrahimović insists that trophies alone don’t measure greatness.
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Zlatan’s philosophy of greatness
In 2021, chatting with France Soccer (the journal that organizes the Ballon d’Or), Zlatan defined: “When the collective works, the person advantages. The person can’t be good if the workforce will not be good. Deep down, I imagine I’m the most effective on this planet.”
He argued that by way of pure qualities, he has “nothing much less” than Messi or Ronaldo. For him, statistics and titles don’t inform the entire story. As a substitute, particular person expertise and affect on the sport matter simply as a lot.
Messi or Ronaldo? Zlatan’s verdict
Regardless of claiming superiority, Ibrahimović admitted one distinction: “I noticed Messi each day and confronted Cristiano. For me, Messi is extra full. Cristiano is a machine for scoring targets, however Messi is extra well-rounded. Ronaldo is a product of coaching.”
Zlatan Ibrahimović has all the time thrived on controversy and self-confidence. Whereas many would argue that Messi’s artistry and Ronaldo’s relentless drive safe their place forward of him within the all-time debate, Ibrahimović stays steadfast in his perception that he belongs on high. His mixture of unbelievable numbers, world success, and unforgettable charisma ensures that—love him or hate him—Zlatan’s legacy will all the time spark debate in the identical breath as soccer’s biggest icons.
