Who is the best player in the world at the moment? The usual answer is Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo remains on one side of the conversation, but as of October 2013, Messi is not a part of the discussion. While he may be the best overall, he is currently not in peak form due to a lingering injury. In his absence another foe has stepped into the conversation - Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The central story of the Portugal vs. Sweden World Cup qualifying matchup is Ronaldo vs. Ibrahimovic. The two superstars will be facing off on the world stage for the first time in years and are both currently at the peak of their respective talents. Which one will succeed in leading his nation to the World Cup next summer and which will be left out?
Ibrahimovic is coming off a six-goal week and has five goals in the French League for Paris Saint-Germain; he has six in the Champions League. Ronaldo has only scored three times in the past week, but he has eight on the year for Real Madrid in the Spanish League and leads all Champions League scorers with seven tallies.
Both players are keys for their nations and have been instrumental in getting them as far as the World Cup qualification playoffs. Ibrahimovic scored six times for Sweden and scored four game-winning goals in his team's group stage. His most important goal may have come with the team down 4-0 against Germany on Oct. 16, 2012. He scored in 62nd minute and his teammates followed with three more tallies in a 4-4 draw.
Ronaldo's group qualification was not as impressive and ended with a controversial yellow card, but there can be no doubt that the captain is essential to his nation. He only scored in two games, but his recorded a tremendous hat-trick against Northern Ireland with the team down 2-1 in the second half.
Portugal is arguably a better side with such players as Helder Postiga, Pepe and Fabio Coentrao serving as backups for Ronaldo while Ibrahimovic manages to turn Sweden into an above-average team on his own.
These two stars will have a huge bearing on the matchup, but Portugal's defenders are more than capable of diminishing the Swedish superstar. Sweden does not have the same answer for Ronaldo, and as evidenced by the 14 goals conceded, the defense is the weak point for the team.
Ronaldo is a more complete player than Ibrahimovic and has the advantage in this matchup.