Zlatan Ibrahimović has unveiled his 'King of the Jungle' power rankings for the 2026 World Cup semifinals, offering his assessment of the tournament's top performers.
Top Performers
At the pinnacle of Ibrahimović's list is himself, with the striker stating, "Being Zlatan Is Enough." He humorously added, "One month of work. It has been the best tournament so far. Imagine what the other journalists feel when they talk: I do a better job than them. … Lions don't compare themselves to humans."
France's Kylian Mbappé secured the second spot. Ibrahimović remarked, "Mbappé took the place of Haaland," and "He's the best player, individually, so far in the tournament." Mbappé has recorded 8 goals and 2 assists in the tournament.
Spain's Lamine Yamal is ranked third. Ibrahimović noted his impressive stats, including 8 goals and 3 assists, and commented, "For me, he's a player that doesn't get a lot of credit, but the football people who know [the game], they know who important he is."
England's Harry Kane is placed fourth with 7 goals, while France's Ousmane Dembélé is fifth, having contributed to France's potent attack with 6 goals and 1 assist. Jude Bellingham of England is ranked sixth, with 5 goals and 2 assists.
Ibrahimović specifically mentioned Bellingham's performance, stating, "After the last performance, Bellingham has been amazing for England."
Other Notable Players
Jamal Musiala of Germany is at number seven, with 6 goals and 1 assist. Ibrahimović expressed a desire for more from the player, saying, "He has dropped a little bit, but I want a goal from him."
Another unnamed player is ranked eighth with 5 assists. Ibrahimović stated, "Yamal, for me, is the best player in the world, but I want to see him explode in one game."
Ibrahimović also commented on a player ranked ninth with 1 goal, noting, "He dropped a little bit [after Norway's loss to England]."
The tenth player on the list remains unnamed, with Ibrahimović highlighting their importance as recognized by those knowledgeable in the sport.