Now a director with AC Milan, Ibrahimovic enjoyed an outstanding playing career with the likes of PSG, Juventus and the Rossoneri.
Speaking with (Ne)uspjeh prvaka, the Swede recalled: "I used to watch Muhammad Ali on television. Back then, TV wasn't in colour; it was all black and white. I watched how he spoke, how he behaved. He wasn't arrogant.
"As a child, I immediately wanted to find out who he was. I said to myself, 'I want to be like him, but in football.' I started watching the games, and that's when I saw Ronaldo for the first time."
Ibrahimovic continued: "When you see a player like that, you start doing what he does. For me, Ronaldo was—and remains—the best player of all time. There are many great players, but for me, he's number one. Instagram or Youtube didn't exist. I'd go to the library, look for videos, hide away to watch his dribbling and moves. I wanted to learn those tricks.
"Somehow, I ended up building my own style, through Muhammad Ali and Ronaldo."