PSG star says fans would rather watch him that Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic says fans would rather see him at the World Cup than Cristiano Ronaldo.
Portugal face Sweden tonight in Lisbon in tonight in the first leg of their World Cup play-off, with many billing the match as a battle between the two in-form superstars.
Ibrahimovic has stressed he respects Ronaldo but says the World Cup would benefit more from his presence than Ronaldo’s.
“I think that the World Cup needs Zlatan more than Ronaldo. The excitement I can bring to the game and the goals I can score – nobody can rival me for that. I believe the fans would want to see me there above anybody.
“I respect him as a player – there is no question he is one of the best.”
Ronaldo is widely considered on a par with Lionel Messi as the world’s best player but Ibrahimovic admits he will not be losing any sleep if he denies fans the chance to watch Ronaldo on the biggest stage in football.
“The World Cup is the greatest sporting competition in the world – it needs to have the best players,” he said.
“If Ronaldo, or Neymar, or Rooney, or Messi, or Xavi is missing then it is a shame for the competition – and it is a shame for the World Cup that one of myself or Ronaldo will not be in Brazil.
“I just need to make sure I do everything over the next two games to make sure that it is him who misses out and not myself.”
2 – Ahead of tonight, @optajoe compares Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2014 WCQ's so far. Battle. pic.twitter.com/6pslvKxqf5
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 15, 2013
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