Zlatan Ibrahimovic broke down in tears then called himself the 'best in the world' ahead of his international comeback for Sweden
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic cried then called himself the "best in the world" ahead of his Sweden return.
- The 39-year-old was called up to the national team last week for the first time in five years.
- "If I'm here, it's not because my name is Zlatan Ibrahimovic but because I deserve to be here," he said.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic cried and then called himself the "best in the world" in his first press conference since being recalled to Sweden's national soccer team.
The 39-year-old was called up for Sweden for the first time in five years last week after retiring from international soccer after Euro 2016.
Speaking at a press conference Monday alongside head coach Janne Andersson, the AC Milan striker could not contain his emotion when asked what his two teenage sons, 14-year-old Maximilian and 12-year-old Vincent, thought of his international return.
"I had Vincent here who really cried when I left him. But now it's OK. It's OK," Ibrahimovic said before placing his head in his hands and crying.
It didn't take for the Swede long to get back to his usual self following his outpouring of emotion, however.
"If I'm here, it's not because my name is Zlatan Ibrahimovic but because I deserve to be here," he said. "Everything I have done before means nothing. I feel fit, I want to be involved, and I feel I can still contribute for the national team."
Ibrahimovic, who is Sweden's all-time top scorer, with 62 goals in 116 games for its top national team, has hit the net 17 times for Milan this term, spearheading its challenge for a first Serie A title in a decade.
"If you ask me, I'm the best in the world," he added. "But that doesn't help here. I just want to put my experience at the disposal of the team, and I promised the coach I will be decisive, but now I have to prove it on the pitch."
Sweden is set to face Georgia on Thursday and Kosovo on Sunday in its first two qualifying games for the 2022 World Cup before facing Estonia in a friendly on March 31.