'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
“The World Cup will be nothing without me.”
Three days after the premium personification of unparalleled modesty, Sachin Tendulkar bid adieu to the world of cricket, the very face of humility was set ablaze in arrogant flames as Zlatan Ibrahimovic declared the worthlessness of football’s greatest stage without him on the backdrop of Sweden bowing out of the qualifiers for FIFA World Cup 2014.
For those who have been anticipating dramatic action in Brazil next year as top teams challenge each other, Ibrahimovic’s answer was repulsively unpalatable. Who would have thought that the purpose of the World Cup would transcend beyond France’s probable self-destruction, Brazilian vows of resurgence and Germany’s assurance, and revolve round the reluctant egotism of a single personality?
Not that Ibrahimovic is entirely wrong. Of all the players to have missed the World Cup berth – and that could have made a mighty eleven, I dare say – Zlatan remains the one who would be sorely missed. Perhaps, he exaggerates to an unpardonable point while portraying himself as larger than the game, but he remains not too insignificant either.
One could hardly ignore the presence of the prince, who had been betrayed by destiny and rendered poor through ovarian lottery, on the field even as the opponents romped home with the scoreline reading 3-2.
It was almost unfortunate to watch Zlatan wrenching the best out of him while his teammates lagged far behind his level – a situation that permitted Cristiano Ronaldo to score a hat-trick and take a step towards Ballon d’Or. That Zlatan is a Swede is as much an irony of luck as is the fact that on that night, Portugal contained a talent superior to his.
It’s true that he falls short of sharing the podium with Lionel Messi and Ronaldo in terms of ability and skills, but there’s certainly an aura about him that makes him a feast for the eyes. Be it his natural gift or his partly enigmatic flair, Zlatan promises the ultimate showmanship whenever he gets a foot on the ball.
The ascendancy from a Paris St. Germain star to a Swedish great has been unusually tentative and the world came to acknowledge him only later in his career. Now, at 32, Zlatan may not have another chance to watch himself playing in a World Cup. Or rather, as the wand chooses the wizard, I must say, the World Cup may have missed its last opportunity to watch one of the finest footballers in action.
The absence of a World Cup match in his impressive curriculum vitae may be the sole reason why a legendary status still eludes him, but his incredible self-worth and blatant narcissism is what makes him an outstanding watch.
Apathetic towards almost every facet of social subtlety, Zlatan exudes unrestrained egoism that clearly reveals his inimitable disregard towards reticence and inhibition instincts. Regardless of what the world speaks of him, Zlatan’s logic stands unarguable in its own right. Yet, it is this unconcealed arrogance that drills out excitement in his play.
Zlatan remains unique among all sports personalities of his era. Roger Federer and Tiger Woods may nurture inconceivably large egos within them, but their public images demand a certain volume of pretence showcasing modesty and sportsmanship. Greg Chappell may consider himself as the lord of the entire universe, but he goes to bed after giving credit to his players on social network.
For Zlatan, however, unbridled ego marks the beginning of each day and conclusion of each night. He elevates solipsism to a new height and makes it look beautifully effortless right there. His unchecked self-esteem gives the strange impression of a sardonic expression of the pent-up grief of being born in a country where football enjoys the backstage.
The risk of self-glorification is, by no means, trivial, and Zlatan may find himself at the wrong end of the sword once he fails to deliver. Irony, if you might call it, remains that he manages to score almost every time.
Be it a spectacular overhead volley or a stunning brace in probably the most important match of his career – Zlatan defies the inevitability that probability offers. While critics crave for an opportunity to ridicule his vanity, Zlatan continues to mesmerize his followers with characteristic brilliance and incredible consistency.
As PSG benefits from Sweden’s loss, football fans around the world are left doubtful about the mega event scheduled at the South American nation next June. The World Cup, after all, may not be all that interesting without Zlatan.
