Football legends Ibrahimovic and Kroos share professional insights

Former footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic has identified five of the most formidable defenders he faced during his career. Ibrahimovic, who played for major clubs including Ajax, Barcelona, Juventus, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain, highlighted Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Jaap Stam, Giorgio Chiellini, and Thiago Silva as his top choices.

Ibrahimovic specifically praised Thiago Silva, describing him as the most complete defender due to his ability to distribute the ball and organize the defense. He noted that Silva’s performance has continued to improve with age.

In a separate football discussion, former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos shared his preference for the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner. Kroos named Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as his number one choice, despite acknowledging that the Georgian player might not ultimately win the award. Kroos’s selection notably excludes high-profile names such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, and Jude Bellingham.