Zlatan Ibrahimović has delivered his characteristic blunt assessment of the contrasting football cultures in America and Europe, speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The Swedish football legend, now a senior advisor for AC Milan, is in the United States for his debut as a pundit for the 2026 World Cup broadcast on Fox Sports. During the interview, he didn’t hold back, touching upon his experience with LA Galaxy, his views on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and his new role in front of the camera.
When discussing the differences in fan behavior between the continents, Ibrahimović offered a humorous yet pointed observation.
“When I played here with the Galaxy, if we lost, I would leave the stadium and see fans laughing, eating tacos, and waiting by the car,” he explained. “They were too soft. In Europe, if you lose a match, the fans don’t wait by the car; they wait at your house. And definitely not with a taco in hand. It’s a completely different scenario.”
Ibrahimović Recounts a Knife Incident and Vows to ‘Wake Up’ American Audiences
He elaborated further, recalling a vivid incident from his time playing for Paris Saint-Germain.
“When we played away at Marseille, they threw knives onto the pitch,” he stated. “We scored, and typically you celebrate by the corner flag, near the fans. I saw that they had thrown a knife. I told my teammates that for the next goal, we would celebrate in the center of the pitch. I wanted to get out alive.”
Regarding his new role as a pundit, Ibrahimović expressed his usual confidence.
“I am the only one who doesn’t have a script,” he declared. “They want Zlatan, and I will give them Zlatan. When the other analysts do their commentary, I think American viewers might fall asleep. I am here to wake them up.”
When asked to choose between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, his answer was predictably self-centered. “Who is better between Messi and Ronaldo? I say Zlatan.”