International Players

10 things Zlatan Ibrahimovic said about Lionel Messi

By Fredi Roman

The Argentinian legend and the Swedish star played together in Barcelona, and the striker always praised his little team-mate.

The Argentinian legend and the Swedish star played together in Barcelona, and the striker always praised his little team-mate.

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic is perfectly capable of saying that Lionel Messi had the privilege of playing alongside him for one year in Barcelona. But at the same time, the Swedish striker has always expressed his admiration for the Argentinian, who shared 2009-2010 season with him in Spain, winning more than a title.

“The Ballon d’Or should be renamed into ‘Lionel Messi’”, he stated when Messi won one of the numerous awards he collected. Despite that, he never hid his admiration. Once, he said: “I’m the best soccer player in the world, but Messi is from another world”. “It’s not possible to become the kind of player he is, that’s why I always say he is unique”, he confessed.

 

Argentinian fans and media use to say there are no more words to describe Messi that havent’ been said before. Apparently, Ibrahimovic tried to avoid controversy and simplystated: “I think Messi is unique, and so is what he does”. About the legend, the Swedish added: “I don’t know if we’ll see any other player doing the things he does.”

“He was shy and a good guy, I liked that, but I also like dominating the field. For him it must have been like if somebody enters his house and lies in his bed”, he said on his arrival to Barcelona. He played 2009-2010 season, winning the FIFA Club World Cup against Argentina’s Estudiantes. That club was coached by later Messi’s coach in Argentina, Alejandro Sabella.

“He has his own playing style”, described. “I was lucky to share every day with him and see what he did. I’ve said it before: it’s like playing PlayStation, you give the ball and he takes it from every opponent. That is Lionel Messi”, was his brilliant description. “Messi was the great star of Barcelona. The team was completely his”, he assured.

“In my team I’d shoot the penalties, because it would be my decision. I’d take the first three and leave the fourth for him. Then I’d take three more, and he would take another one”, he said too.

 

 

 


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