Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Mercurial, enigmatic, opinion-dividing but capable of genuine brilliance and still the key source of sparkle in a progressive Sweden side. Can he prove his worth on the biggest stage?

Mercurial, enigmatic, temperamental, genius, over-rated. Those are all words that have been used to describe AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. One that's rarely used is dull. Because here is one of football's most exhilarating and divisive talents. For every observer who brackets the tall striker with Messi and Ronaldo there is another ready to brand him the most over-rated player in the game. The truth lies somewhere between these two extreme views. But a talent he undoubtedly is. Few and far between are the mediocre players who can list Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona and AC Milan on their CV. Fewer still those who can cite eight consecutive domestic league titles (albeit two of those won with Juventus later revoked). But for all his success at club level, Ibrahimovic's international career has been something of a disappointment. Often characterised as a self-obsessed loner in international football, this apparent mindset could often be perceived visually as the rigid 4-4-2 favoured by Lars Lagerback left Zlatan all too often isolated up front and unable to exert the influence his talent merits - nay, demands. All that has changed under new Sweden coach Erik Hamren. Finally, Zlatan has the attacking, progressive international side he wants to be a part of. And suddenly he is all about the team. He is now captain and - perhaps more importantly - has found the ideal role in Hamren's 4-2-3-1, playing as the central prong of the attacking trident and able to get so much more involved in the team's play. On the back of his most prolific season (35 goals in 41 matches for Milan) and revelling in a new role in a side that has thrown off its safety-first reputation, the one they call Zlatan at last has the ability, confidence and opportunity to show the world just how good he is on the international stage.