Zlatan in World Cup: Hero or Zero

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has a final shot at sporting immortality Wednesday morning (Singapore time).

He is already close. When he launched himself into Neverland with that surreal, sublime bicycle-kick goal against England, he almost touched the football gods.

Sweden's second leg against Portugal in their qualification play-off offers a nation a route to the World Cup.

But the contest offers one man a chance to become something more than a fascinating footnote in the Beautiful Game's history. Ibrahimovic (above) will become history.

For a footballer who has scaled the heights across Europe and scored Champions League goals for six different clubs, Ibrahimovic risks being categorised as one of football's greatest nearly men.

Domestic titles in Holland, Italy, Spain and France might suggest otherwise, but there is an asterisk after Ibrahimovic's name. He has never lifted the Champions League and he failed to score for Sweden at the 2006 World Cup.

But that's not the asterisk. His footnote might concern the financial side of his career rather than his form.

Money appears to motivate. Cash calls the shots and determines the clubs he deigns worthy of his presence.

Fair or not, that's the perception, underlined by his move to Paris St Germain.

Ibrahimovic sold his services to Middle Eastern billionaires bankrolling a club dominated by fashion houses rather than teams in a league not remotely close to matching the his standards.

That's Ibrahimovic's prerogative. He can play where he pleases.

But the universal acclaim taken for granted by both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi - and the Swede deserves to be bracketed in the same company - has been denied to Ibrahimovic.

Messi is devoted to Barcelona and the game itself. Ronaldo loves a photo shoot almost as much as a free-kick, but fortune and football are never on an equal footing with the Portuguese playmaker.

The game comes first. He joined Real Madrid to fulfil a lifelong childhood fantasy. The inflated bank balance was a welcome by-product of his ambition.

Ibrahimovic, with his temperament often trumping his incomparable talent, has never been revered in the same way.

Throughout his career, his volatility saw him fall out with managers and a long list of players.

His flashers of either temper or impudence - you decide - have led to several bizarre YouTube clips of him kicking teammates, including Antonio Cassano, (in the face, no less, while Cassano was being interviewed on live TV) Christian Wilhelmsson and Rodney Strasser.

Training ground fights, suspensions for kicking, punching, head-butting and stomping are stains that contaminate the purest of talents.

He is one step beyond a football maverick, leaning towards the principles of a mafia don. He'd rather be feared than loved.

Even PSG winger Lucas Moura claimed Ibrahimovic was arrogant, insulting and complained a lot. Moura is Ibrahimovic's teammate.

Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic are both restricted by their passports. Their respective countries are not blessed with other players of similar talents, but the Portuguese has demonstrated an admirable doggedness to carry his side through tournaments in recent years.

Ibrahimovic was largely anonymous at the 2006 World Cup. Last week, he was also nullified by Pepe.

But his muted performance in the first leg was not reflective of Ibrahimovic's efforts this season. He seems aware that, at 32, his chances of excelling on the largest international and Champions League stages are diminishing.

When he trudged off down the tunnel at the end of the first leg, refusing to speak to reporters in the mixed zone, there was a sense of personal disappointment rather than petulance.

Ibrahimovic's recent form for both PSG and Sweden has been remarkable.

He has knocked in 10 goals in eight matches since his countrymen moved into the Friends Arena. The stadium is now nicknamed "Zlatan Arena".

He realises that further World Cups and bumper paydays are unlikely. His legacy will be written in the next year by his endeavours for club and country.

His past misdemeanours cannot be entirely washed away, but they will fade if more striking accomplishments come to the fore.

Ibrahimovic's consistency this season merits a match-winning performance against Portugal. His talent deserves to be in Brazil. The World Cup should take centrestage now, rather than kicks and head-butts.

Sweden's finest striker can either write the beginnings of a fitting legacy Wednesday morning, or an early paragraph of his career obituary.

When he jogs into "Zlatan Arena", Ibrahimovic will be stepping into the last chance saloon.

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