Hernan Crespo believes Zlatan Ibrahimovic would have won Ballon d'Or if not for Messi and Ronaldo

Argentine legend Hernan Crespo has showered great praise on the abilities of fellow striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. According to the former Chelsea star, the EPL newcomer would have won the Ballon D’ Or if he did not play in the same era as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ibrahimovic has an impressive goalscoring record and at one point was arguably one of the three best players in the world but could never meet the god-like standards set by Messi and Ronaldo.

The Swede is indeed a gifted player and even at the ripe old age of 34, he is one of the best strikers in the world. He had a sensational Manchester United debut tow days back when he scored a brilliant overhead kick four minutes into his first game as a Red Devil.

Crespo in his article for The Guardian stated his case as why he might have gone down as a Ballon d’ Or winner. “Make no mistake about it, he is a phenomenon. “He has been unlucky to play in the same era as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, otherwise, he would have been the best player of his time.”

Crespo might have a point. There was a reason the likes of Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and other great managers wanted him to play for their teams. Zlatan has shown on several occasions that he is the complete package.

At PSG, he was the focal point every attack and every move going forward. The big Swede not only scored goals but also set up his teammates with his link-up play and ability to create space.

Crespo continued to shower praise in his article about the striker.

“Zlatan always made me score lots of goals – four or five – in training matches and then, on Sundays, in the league, he always scored. I told him: 'If you passed to me like you do in training then I would be top scorer! And then he smiled because he became the top scorer in Serie A in the end. And in the meantime, he learned how to think more about others.”

Mourinho’s purchase of Zlatan might be the smartest piece of business any manager has done in this transfer window. Now the self-proclaimed of God of Manchester has to step up to the plate and deliver.