Sulley Muntari Gives the Main Reason Why Zlatan Ibrahimovic Was Denied Ballon d’Or

Sulley Muntari Gives the Main Reason Why Zlatan Ibrahimovic Was Denied Ballon d’Or

  • Sulley Muntari has revealed why his former teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic never won the Ballon d'Or despite his glistening career
  • According to the former Ghana international, Ibrahimovic possessed one trait which was undesirable for the award organisers
  • Ibrahimovic notched an impressive 511 goals in his club career and a further 62 for Sweden

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Ghanaian football icon Sulley Ali Muntari has offered insight into why Zlatan Ibrahimovic never claimed the prestigious Ballon d'Or, despite an illustrious career filled with goals, silverware, and stints at some of Europe's top clubs.

Known for his larger-than-life persona and incredible skill, Ibrahimovic brought an end to his glittering career without securing football’s most coveted individual accolade.

Sulley Muntari has ascribed Zlatan Ibrahimovic's inability to win the Ballon d'Or to the latter's sharp tongue nature.
Sulley Muntari believes Zlatan Ibrahimovic's outspoken nature denied him a chance to win the Ballon d'Or Award. Photos by Damien Meyer and Franck Fife.
Source: Getty Images

Although his failure to win the Golden Ball slightly diminishes his claims to footballing immortality, there is no disputing his place among the sport’s all-time greats.

While many believe his undeniable talent deserved recognition, Muntari has suggested that the outspoken Swede’s personality played a major role in his omission from the Ballon d’Or winners' list.

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Muntari reveals why Ibrahimovic never won the Ballon d'Or

Speaking in an interview quoted by GOAL, the former Ghana international explained that Ibrahimovic’s forthright nature and charismatic but controversial character made him an unfavourable choice for award organisers.

“Ibrahimovic is the top player, he's one of the best during his time," Muntari stated.
"They didn't want to give him the Ballon d’Or because he speaks his mind. Sometimes they don't like to hear that, but Ibrahimovic is massive."

Despite his dominance across leagues in Italy, Spain, France, and England, the closest the Swedish forward came to winning the award was a fourth-place finish in 2013.

That year, he fell short behind three legends of the game—Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Franck Ribéry, as noted by talkSPORT.

Muntari’s remarks shed light on the complexities surrounding the Ballon d'Or selection process, where factors beyond on-field performance, such as public perception and diplomacy, often come into play.

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Ultimately, while Zlatan may have missed out on the coveted prize, his legacy as one of football’s most charismatic and talented figures remains intact.

Journalist recounts Muntari's ordeal in GPL

YEN.com.gh also revealed that a former StarTimes commentator recounted an incident that underscored Sulley Muntari’s dissatisfaction with the Ghana Premier League's infrastructure.

The iconic midfielder painted a bleak picture of the league, referring to it as a "big hole" without a clear direction.

Despite the blunt critique, his remarks serve as a call to action for stakeholders to tackle the league’s persistent challenges.

Muntari places himself in 4th spot in top five Black Stars ranking

In a separate report, YEN.com.gh highlighted Sulley Muntari's selection of the top five midfielders to have played for the Black Stars.

He placed Stephen Appiah at the top of his list, with Michael Essien securing the second spot.

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Muntari modestly ranked himself in fourth position among the elite names.

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Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe avatar

Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe (Sports Editor) Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe is a CAF-accredited journalist with over five years of experience in digital journalism. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Integrated Rural Arts and Industry (2016). Godwin's career includes covering the 2023 AFCON and grassroots competitions within Ghana. He has also served as a Presenter at VNTV, a Sports Analyst at Obonu FM, and a Football Writer for a myriad of sports websites. He joined Yen.com.gh in 2024 to cover sports. Email: godwin.tagoe@yen.com.gh.