Ibrahimovich needs to be at the word cup not Ronaldo

By Robin Bairner

Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are both outstanding footballers, of that there can be no argument; however, the languid Swede deserves this opportunity to showcase his wares on the world stage.

At 32, this will more than likely be Ibra's final opportunity to play a starring role in a World Cup, and there can be little doubt the tournament would benefit enormously for having not only his skills, which are perhaps at their very peak presently, but also his personality on show.

The Paris Saint-Germain striker's form this season has been remarkable. In terms of his goalscoring talents, he has mustered close to a goal a game, including six in three Champions League outings, and his increasingly mature demeanour on the field means that he is performing with added confidence on the big stage.

Moreover, his versatility in front of goal is unparalleled. From his fierce 100km long-range drive against Anderlecht to his impossible scorpion kick versus Bastia - and let's not forget his Puskas Award-nominated overhead kick for Sweden against England last year - Ibrahimovic has a full gambit when it comes to putting the ball in the net. For this reason, he is perhaps the world's most mercurial and entertaining player.

However, Ibra's unpredictability is not restricted to events on the field. The outspoken Swede carries with him an ego matched only by his footballing talent, marking him out as one of football's few remaining media personalities.

He is a true leader of a workmanlike Sweden team that has the potential to repeat one of the great World Cup runs, when, in 1994, they pushed Brazil all the way in a tight semi-final before eventually finishing third courtesy of a playoff success over Bulgaria. Ibrahimovic is the Roy of the Rovers-type character who could make such a fairy tale run become reality and give the competition a romanticism it might otherwise lack.

Brazil next summer would be a brighter place with Ibrahimovic's utterly unique talents and controversial comments. It may well be the last chance we get to see one of the game’s great entertainers on such a grandiose stage.