Let us not forget that Ibrahimovic’s Champions League scoring record is pitiful, that even then he tends to score those fabulous goals against smaller sides that do not garner much international attention and that his oft-discussed tendency to disappear in the crunch matches is based in fact. When it comes to Sweden, his record is even worse, failing to score a single goal for his country in almost three years. He makes Luca Toni look positively prolific for Italy.
Mourinho does make a very good point that winning the Ballon d’Or is all about hype and Italy, with its love of building 'em up and tearing 'em down, hasn’t got a prayer against the self-titled Greatest League In The World™. Yet Ibrahimovic has the benefit of being backed by the Holy Trinity of Self-Aggrandisement – Mourinho, Inter and Zlatan himself. Nobody could accuse them of being modest, shy or retiring.
It’s up to Ibra now. Score some of those utterly sensational goals in the next round of the Champions League and put in a match-winning performance against Juventus in Saturday’s top of the table showdown. Then we’ll talk about you as a true contender for the Ballon d’Or.