Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the iconic Swedish striker, has humorously taken aim at Cristiano Ronaldo's recent "I'm back" social media post.
Ronaldo, who recently scored twice against Uzbekistan in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, prompted a sarcastic remark from Ibrahimovic while the latter was acting as a pundit.
"I thought he never left?" Ibrahimovic quipped, questioning the necessity of Ronaldo's public declaration of his return to form.
The Portugal captain, at 41 years old, achieved a significant milestone by scoring his sixth World Cup goal, making him the sole player in history to find the net in six distinct World Cup editions. This historic feat places him in an elite category of footballing legends.
Despite this individual triumph, Ronaldo's goal tally in the World Cup still trails behind that of his long-time rival, Lionel Messi. The Argentine maestro holds the record for the most World Cup goals.
However, Ronaldo himself appeared to downplay the individual accolade, shifting the focus towards the collective ambitions of the Portuguese national team. He emphasized the importance of the team's victory against Uzbekistan and their pursuit of deeper progression in the tournament.
Looking ahead, Ronaldo expressed his anticipation for potential future encounters, including a possible showdown with Lionel Messi in the later stages of the World Cup. This hints at the enduring rivalry that has captivated football fans for over a decade.
Portugal's immediate objective remains to secure their passage to the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup. The team is determined to build on their current momentum and is aspiring to mount a serious challenge for the coveted World Cup trophy.
