Zlatan Ibrahimovic Has to Back Up His Words with Actions for PSG and Sweden

On Saturday night, at the Friends Arena in Solna, Sweden, despite a long career filled with an endless stream of trophies, Zlatan Ibrahimovic will play one of the biggest games of his career. Sweden face Denmark in the first leg of their play-off, fighting for a place at the 2016 UEFA European Football Championship.

Only this week, for the 10th consecutive occasion, Zlatan was awarded the title of Swedish Footballer of the Year. However, it will all mean very little if he can’t help guide his country to the Euros next summer.

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Ibrahimovic wants one last tournament, perhaps even his last. “If it’s over [for me] after the play-offs? We’ll see,” he told press before the game, per the Guardian. “If you’re asking me now? No. If you ask me after the play-offs? I don’t know.”

During his 14-year history with the national team, none of his 59 goals over a 109-game spell has come against Denmark. In the seven fixtures since Ibrahimovic made his debut in 2001, not only has he not scored, but Sweden have only been victorious once—that was back in 2007.

Sadly, something that has happened all too often over the last 18 months, when the Swede feels the pressure—or feels he has to back himself up—he runs his mouth. Whereas before he could back it up on the field, that is happening less and less, but his comments become increasingly brash.

“I would love to play at the European Championship in France,” the striker said, via BBC Sport. “I have played there for four years. I have put Sweden on the world map and now I have put France on the world map, too."

No matter who the player is, or what they have achieved in their career, this is disrespectful on any level.

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There is no doubt that he has made an impact since his arrival in Ligue 1. He is now Paris Saint-Germain’s all-time leading goalscorer, and it will take a monumental input from someone else to ever top his total.

With three league titles, there is no doubt he has raised the profile of the Parisian club; however, Ligue 1 was around before Ibrahimovic, and it will continue to survive and grow without him.

It was back in 2002 that the French league changed its name to Ligue 1, and with that brought about Lyon’s years of dominance, winning seven straight titles. Then in 2004, AS Monaco hit the headlines when they reached the final of the Champions League, before Didier Deschamps' men lost against FC Porto.

It wasn't exactly a European football back water, demonstrated by some of the high-profile transfers from Ligue 1 clubs, like Eden Hazard’s move to Chelsea and Franck Ribery joining Bayern Munich.

Unfortunately, with Ibrahimovic, you have to separate the football side with his ego. On the pitch, he can do things you can only dream of. Some of his greatest goals will be remembered forever, and it has been a pleasure for Ligue 1 fans to be able to watch him in full flight—no one will forget his wonderful over-the-head backheel against Bastia.

But that doesn’t mean he gets to say whatever he wants. Zlatan will be remembered. He doesn’t have to add the shock factor—it just reeks a little of someone who knows his best form is behind him. Although he would never admit it.

Speaking to the club website last month, he said:

"

I think I'm still improving, even if I'm getting older! I'm still here, doing what I know how to do and doing it better and better. I'm like wine -- I get better with age. I don't feel like I'm getting old -- quite the opposite. I'm stronger and stronger mentally. I'm still hungry and that will help me keep reaching my goals.

"

There could be an argument to suggest that he has been saving himself for this crucial play-off against Denmark, but that means it is now time to show that once again, it’s not just words—he still has the ability to light up the biggest stage.

He may have scored nine goals in eight Ligue 1 games, but his overall play has been poor, more noticeably when he has come up short in PSG’s four Champions League games this campaign. When faced with the quality of Real Madrid, Zlatan was found wanting—adding more fuel to the fire that he will likely finish his career without lifting Europe’s top prize.

Ibrahimovic turned 34 years old at the start of October, and with his contract with PSG ending in the summer, it looks as if his Parisian adventure will finish at the end of the season. He is a very difficult player to replace, hence the club have been linked with a move for Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, via Mark Rodden of ESPN FC.

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The Swede took PSG up towards the next level; signing the Ballon d’Or winner would fire them into the next stratosphere. But as many believe it would take Zlatan’s departure to make it happen, could bringing in the Portuguese forward spark a breath of life into his ageing bones?

Financial fair play still exists, and if PSG’s spending was too extravagant, restrictions could again apply, but if the club could find a way to add Ronaldo while keeping Zlatan on a one-year extension, the idea is mouth-watering and mind-blowing.

With two of this generation's greatest talents combining on the pitch, you would be able to forgive the massive clash of egos that could erupt both off- and on-field. It would only take a few moments of magic between them to capture everyone’s imagination—and just maybe give PSG a chance of realising their Champions League dreams.

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Failing to beat Real Madrid in this year’s group stage makes it unlikely that PSG, in their current guise, have the ability to go on and win the Champions League this season. If Zlatan leaves in the summer, a new phase of the project will begin.

Signing Cristiano Ronaldo will be a target for the club this summer, but it may also be the tool that inspires Ibrahimovic to have one more go at winning club football’s greatest prize. Maybe then, instead of Zlatan putting Ligue 1 on the map, the French league would give the Swedish striker the platform to win that one prize that has so far eluded him.

First things first, he needs to back up his latest outburst with an inspirational performance against Denmark. Only then can he guarantee that he’ll still be playing in France come the end of the season.