AC Milan and Sweden striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes Brazil’s Ronaldo is the best player in history and that “everyone” wanted to play like the World Cup winner at the height of his career

Ibrahimovic expressed his admiration towards the World Cup winner ahead of Milan’s Europa League clash with Red Star Belgrade on Thursday night, while putting him ahead of modern-day greats such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the all-time list of top players.

Zlatan, 39 thinks Ronaldo Nazario, who inspired Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002, changed the game with his unique talents and still stands till this day.

Zlatan told Discovery Plus: “I don’t need to describe Ronaldo, ‘The Phenomenon’.

“I always say you have the players that play the game, and the players that are the game. For me, Ronaldo is the game. When you watch him play, everyone wanted to play like him and become like him.

“The way he was moving, the way he did his stepovers, the way he did ‘the snake’. The way he was moving, for me he’s the greatest player through history, no doubt.”

Ronaldo’s extraordinary career
saw him play for PSV, Barcelona, Inter, Real Madrid, Milan and Corinthians.

He scored 296 goals in 452 matches in total, while also winning three FIFA World Player of the Year awards and two Ballons d’Or .

He helped Brazil reach the World Cup final in 1998 before scoring eight goals in the 2002 World Cup to fire the Selecao to their fifth title.