Zlatan to Haaland: "He needs to do much more to reach my level"

Europe Today at 02:58

Aliou Toundé

News Editor

The ongoing comparison between Zlatan Ibrahimović and Erling Haaland continues to fuel debate. Asked about the Norwegian's place among the greatest strikers of his generation, the former Swedish international made sure to temper the praise.

While he acknowledges the exceptional qualities of the Manchester City player, Ibrahimovic feels that Haaland has yet to develop the complete skill set that defined his own career. For the former Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, and FC Barcelona striker, Haaland excels first and foremost as a finisher:

He scores goals, he's a killer in the box. But he needs to do much more to reach my level, to become the force of nature that I am.

However, Zlatan believes that a striker must also know how to contribute to the build-up play, create space, and influence matches beyond just offensive statistics. It's in this area that he feels he still has the edge over the Norwegian star:

He does what he needs to do. He's smart and doesn't waste energy trying to do more than he's capable of. I saw myself more as a complete player. I enjoyed touching the ball and being involved in the game.

At 25, Haaland still has many years ahead to add to his trophy cabinet and expand his game. The 2026 World Cup could well provide him with a new opportunity to prove he can join the ranks of football's greatest legends.