Inter Milan and Italy legend Marco Materazzi has shared his candid thoughts on former AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, calling him a “big, big player” but asserting that the Swede does not measure up to Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, Soccernet.football reports.
Speaking exclusively to SempreInter at a LuckyBlock.com event, Materazzi reflected on his complex relationship with Ibrahimovic.
Their rivalry began with a fierce tackle from Materazzi during the Swede’s Juventus days, an incident that forced Ibrahimovic off injured.
The feud later escalated when Ibrahimovic, playing for AC Milan, publicly declared he had taken revenge in a heated derby.
Despite their shared time at Inter Milan, tension lingered, with Ibrahimovic criticising Materazzi after Inter’s Champions League loss to Liverpool.
Materazzi downplayed the animosity, stating: “I don’t have a relationship with him, but it’s not a problem for him or for me. He thinks he was the best player in the world. This is not my opinion.
“But he is a big player who scored a lot of goals and won many titles. Still, he’s not Messi, he’s not Ronaldo—he’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic.”
Materazzi also reminisced about his toughest opponent, “Ronaldo, il Fenomeno,” and childhood idol Marco van Basten, admitting: “I know he was a Milan player, but for me, he was the best.”
Turning to his World Cup memories, Materazzi expressed frustration at being remembered for Zinedine Zidane’s infamous headbutt in the 2006 final.
Instead, he said: “You should remember me for my two goals in the World Cup Final. Not many defenders can say that.”
Reflecting on Italy’s controversial 2002 exit to South Korea, Materazzi remarked: “That team was better than our 2006 squad. Byron Moreno was a joker, but maybe it was destiny preparing us for glory four years later.”
The iconic defender, who spent a decade at Inter, remains celebrated for helping the club secure a historic treble in 2010.