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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>One of the greatest strikers of his generation</li><li>Never finished higher than fourth in Ballon d'Or vote</li><li>Earned respect of those he played alongside</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

‘Speaks his mind’ – Why Zlatan Ibrahimovic was denied Ballon d’Or win as former team-mate Sulley Muntari insists Swedish striker was not ‘intimidating’ to play with

<p>Former Ghana international Muntari spent time working with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/zlatan-ibrahimovic-breaking-goal-record-annoyed-ac-milan-legend-swedish-striker-playing-beyond-40th-birthday/blt55e2ca12b390c956" target="_blank">enigmatic Swedish striker Ibrahimovic</a> at Inter and AC Milan. The outspoken frontman is famed for his sharp tongue and demanding attitude, but that was never considered to be an issue for his club colleagues.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Muntari, who also spent time in the Premier League at Portsmouth during his playing days, has told <a href="https://www.flashscore.co.uk/ " target="_blank"><em>Flashscore</em></a> when asked about <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/ibrahimovic-big-ego-ac-milan-team-player/blt52ae3a0c888f519a" target="_blank">self-proclaimed football “god” Zlatan</a>: “As a team-mate Ibrahimovic wasn’t intimidating at all. He just wants the best out of you. He won games easily for whichever team I played. I managed to play with him during his early years in Inter during his first season then we met at Milan.”</p>

WHAT SULLEY MUNTARI SAID

<p>Muntari added on why one of the greatest strikers of his generation, who <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/wont-waste-time-zlatan-ibrahimovic-brutal-response-cristiano-ronaldo-ligue-1-criticism-psg-legend-al-nassr-star-no-evidence-saudi-pro-league/blt5ca2ea5c339f4099" target="_blank">won countless trophies in major divisions</a> across Europe, was <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/ibrahimovic-why-missed-out-ballon-dor-mr-perfect-messi-ronaldo/blt79a642fdf2b35671" target="_blank">denied a Golden Ball and title of best player on the planet</a>: “Ibrahimovic is the top player, he's one of the best during his time. They didn't want to give him the Ballon d’Or because he speaks his mind. Sometimes they don't like to hear that but Ibrahimovic is massive. My best strikers of all time are [Samuel] Eto'o, Ibrahimovic and [Thierry] Henry.”</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Ibrahimovic retired in 2023, having played into his 40s, and is now an <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/video-ac-milan-ultras-cheer-usmnt-star-christian-pulisic-alvaro-morata-rafael-leao-jeered-zlatan-ibrahimovic-enter-125th-anniversary-party-side-entrance/blt02739000e58c4fbe" target="_blank">advisor to AC Milan’s ownership team</a>. He is expected to thrive in that role, with Muntari saying: “Ibrahimovic has been a winner for a very long time and now that he is taking care of Milan not on the field but in an advisory role, I think with time he will be one of the top football administrators in the world.”</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Ibrahimovic hit 511 goals in his club career and a further 62 for his country. He is now <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/funny-name-christian-pulisic-reacts-captain-america-tag-usmnt-star-addresses-statement-ac-milan-legend-zlatan-ibrahimovic/blt54d0f7bb93b538f1" target="_blank">working with USMNT stars Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah</a> at AC Milan, while England international defender <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/video-kyle-walker-zlatan-ibrahimovic-watch-ac-milan-former-man-city-defender-waits-debut-wife-annie-kilner-join-him-italy-lauryn-goodman-mistress-saga/blt2b2c70376c74c027" target="_blank">Kyle Walker has become the latest addition at San Siro</a>.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

‘Speaks his mind’ – Why Zlatan Ibrahimovic was denied Ballon d’Or win as former team-mate Sulley Muntari insists Swedish striker was not ‘intimidating’ to play with | Goal.com

Zlatan Ibrahimovic never won the Ballon d’Or because he “speaks his mind” and was not “intimidating” to play with, says ex-team-mate Sulley Muntari.

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