Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 41, believes the stars are aligned for Lionel Messi to finally win the long-awaited World Cup, the Milan player told Dubai media on Monday (12).
In search of that objective, Messi, who disputes his fifth World Cup, in Qatar, will make this Tuesday (13) the duel of the semifinal between Argentina and Croatia. The 35-year-old Paris Saint-Germain player is playing in what could very likely be the last World Cup of his career.
Alongside Croatia, France and Morocco, the albiceleste dreams of the title, which it has not won since 1986.
Ibrahimovic, who is continuing his rehabilitation from a knee injury, said he only sees one team lifting the trophy.
“I think it’s already written who’s going to win, and you know who I mean. I think Messi is going to lift the trophy, it’s already written”, said the veteran Ibra, who took part with Sweden in two World Cups, in 2002 and 2006.
Ibrahimovic described the other two semi-finalists, France and Croatia, as “strong nations” but believes Messi’s triumph is inevitable. Asked about Morocco, the first African team to reach the semifinals of a World Cup, Ibrahimovic replied:
“I don’t think it’s a surprise because I knew they were good before the World Cup. Then, obviously, at the Cup anything can happen.”
The Moroccans reached the semifinals after eliminating Spain and Portugal. The images of Cristiano Ronaldo walking with his head down to the locker room after the elimination of the Portuguese traveled the world, in a sad epilogue for the 37-year-old star.
Pressed to send a message to ‘CR7’, Ibrahimovic said: “I don’t think it’s important what I can say. I mean, everyone wants to win the World Cup, not everyone can”.
Ibrahimovic also said that the real story behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from Manchester United will never be made public, which is why it is difficult for the Swede to comment on the matter.
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