Zlatan Ibrahimovic is never shy of sharing his opinion, and he is often full of confidence in his own standing in world football.

A stellar career saw Ibrahimovic score goals for some of the world’s biggest clubs including Ajax, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United – who released him in March 2018.

He won 12 league titles across his playing career, netting over 400 goals in seven different leagues, plus 62 goals in 122 international caps for Sweden.

It is unsurprising, then, that he holds himself in high regard and that was evident when asked to compare himself to some of the game’s greatest strikers.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic stays silent when asked to compare himself to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

In a social media feature for TNT Sports Brazil, Ibrahimovic was asked to speak only when he heard a better player than himself.

The first name given was Erling Haaland, before Thierry Henry and Robert Lewandowski were listed. Then it was Kylian Mbappe and Rivaldo, with Ibrahimovic still staying silent.

Ibrahimovic even remained silent and emotionless when the names of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were given to him, suggesting he felt he was better than the incredible pair even in their primes.

And it was only the mention of former Brazil and Real Madrid striker Ronaldo that prompted Ibrahimovic to admit was better than him.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic explains why Ronaldo was better than him – and also Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

Explaining his decision to name Ronaldo as the only player better than him, Ibrahimovic showed how much respect he has for the iconic forward.

The Swede said: “There you’re going to hear my voice. That [Ronaldo] was my example. I would even sit on the bench for him.”

Ibrahimovic wrote about Ronaldo in his autobiography, writing: “I put up photos of Ronaldo in my room. Ronaldo was the man. He was what I wanted to be, a guy who made a difference.

“Ronaldo was my hero and I studied him online and tried to take in his movements, and I thought I was getting to be an awesome player.”