Zlatan Ibrahimović, the towering former striker renowned for his self-assured demeanor, confessed to being terrified of helicopter rides while en route to the World Cup final. Ibrahimović, 44, who has been working as a pundit for Fox Sports alongside Thierry Henry and Alexi Lalas during the tournament, shared his apprehension about the aerial journey.
"The adrenaline is pumping on the way, I'm s******* in my pants," Ibrahimović admitted with a grin. "I don't like helicopters but it's okay, I have Rebecca [Lowe, presenter] close to me, I have Thierry, I have Alexi. If we go down, we go down together."
The Swedish international, standing at 6ft5in, opted for a cream suit for the flight, a departure from his more casual attire for a previous interview. Despite his public image of grandiosity and self-exaltation, Ibrahimović has occasionally shown glimpses of vulnerability. His career has been marked by bold statements, including a reported refusal to undergo a trial at Arsenal as a teenager, stating, "I will not do a trial: either you take me or not, I'm not here to waste time."
Punditry Dynamics
During the World Cup coverage, Ibrahimović has engaged in several on-air exchanges with co-pundit Alexi Lalas. Host Rebecca Lowe has downplayed any notion of genuine tension between the two, suggesting that such reports are a source of amusement for the Fox Sports team. Lowe told talkSPORT that the suggestions of unrest are "getting a little out of hand" and that the trio respects each other immensely.
Lowe acknowledged that the pundits engage in banter, with Lalas once remarking that Ibrahimović's cream suit resembled attire from the 1970s show 'Fantasy Island.' She emphasized that behind the playful jousting, a strong mutual respect exists among them, and the on-air dynamic is often misinterpreted as conflict.
Earlier in the tournament, Ibrahimović had branded Lalas "the past" live on air and dismissed his comments about the French team. Lalas, in turn, has participated in humorous segments, including one where Thierry Henry playfully tricked him during a studio soccer exercise.