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Zlatan Ibrahimović Claims He’s As Good As Messi And Ronaldo

Zlatan Ibrahimović Claims He’s As Good As Messi And Ronaldo

The 39 year old claims he's as worthy of a Ballon d'Or as the PSG and United stars.

James Aldred

James Aldred

Ever the one for an outrageous statement, Zlatan Ibrahimović has claimed he's as good a footballer as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

In an interview with France Football (which is set to be released in its entirety in the next few weeks), the 39 year old was asked whether he regrets not winning the coveted Ballon d'Or.

His response was as arrogant and as brash as you would have hoped for.

"If anything it's the Ballon d'Or that is missing me," the AC Milan striker replied, as quoted by Football ItaliaFootball Italia.

Image Credit- PA Images
Image Credit- PA Images

When asked about where he ranks against some of the best players in the world, Ibrahimović says he deserves to be in the conversation and that he is on a par with PSG's Messi and Manchester United's Ronaldo.

"If we are talking about intrinsic quality, they have nothing more than me," he continued. "If we consider trophies then yes, I didn't win the Champions League.

Image Credit- PA Images
Image Credit- PA Images

I don't know what criteria they use to decide who gets the award, because I am not obsessed with it. When a collective works, the individual inevitably benefits from that. An individual cannot do well if the team isn't solid.

Deep down, I do think that I am the best in the world."

Despite not claiming a Champions League winners' medal, Zlatan has a CV that even the greatest players in the world would envy.

Sweden's all-time leading goal scorer has lifted league titles in Holland, Italy, Spain and France and won the FIFA Puskás Award in 2013 for his sublime effort against England in an international friendly.

Although he enjoyed a decent spell at the Camp Nou, winning La Liga in 2010 and becoming the only player in the club's history to score in each of his opening five matches, Ibrahimović has not been afraid to recall the differences he had with Messi whilst at the club.

"Lionel Messi is amazing," he wrote in his 2011 autobiography I Am Zlatan, as quoted by Tribuna. "He's totally amazing. He was brought up in that culture... but now I was there, and I was scoring more goals than him.

Image Credit- PA Images
Image Credit- PA Images

He went to Guardiola and said 'I don't want to be on the right-wing anymore, I want to play in the centre'. I was the striker. Guardiola didn't give a damn about that though.

He changed the tactical formation. Guardiola had to listen to him. But I mean, come on, I had scored loads of goals at Barca and I'd been pretty awesome as well."

After renewing his deal at The San Siro in April, Ibrahimovic will play into his 40th year this season, his 22nd as a professional footballer.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Ibrahimovic, Messi, Ronaldo