”Everyone gets scared” – Zlatan Ibrahimovic delivers chilling verdict on Messi’s semifinal masterclass

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic has never been a man short of words. But even the eternally confident Swede found himself reaching for the divine to describe what Lionel Messi did to England in Wednesday’s World Cup semifinal.

Before the match, the former Sweden captain and current Fox Sports analyst had issued a bold prophecy. Invoking one of football’s most infamous moments, Ibrahimovic reminded viewers that England had already witnessed Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” in 1986. Now, he warned, they were about to experience something equally transcendent.

“In England, they saw the hand of God. Tomorrow they’re going to see the left foot of God,” Ibrahimovic declared on Fox Sports ahead of the clash.

The prediction proved eerily accurate. Messi didn’t score against the Three Lions, but he didn’t need to. Instead, the 39-year-old delivered two breathtaking assists in the final minutes—first teeing up Enzo Fernández for the 85th-minute equalizer, then finding Lautaro Martínez in stoppage time for the winner that sent Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup final.

After the final whistle, Ibrahimovic returned to the studio with an even more emphatic take. The “left foot of God” had done its damage, but that wasn’t the full story.

“I said England would witness the Left Foot of God, but it wasn’t just that. They also witnessed the Right Foot of God,” Ibrahimovic said, comparing Messi’s display to Maradona’s legendary 1986 performance.

The Swedish icon was unequivocal about the psychological effect Messi has on everyone in the stadium—including those paid to analyze him.

“Listen, when Messi switches on, everybody gets scared—even the fans, even us up here in the studio,” Ibrahimovic said.

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A Tactical Breakdown—and a Warning Ignored

Ibrahimovic didn’t just praise Messi; he dissected exactly how England handed Argentina the match. The former Barcelona and Manchester United striker pointed to a fatal tactical retreat after England took a 1-0 lead.

“England just stopped playing when they scored the goal,” Ibrahimovic observed. He questioned England manager Thomas Tuchel’s substitutions, suggesting the German coach “went too defensive” while Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni “went more offensive”.

“The way Argentina was playing, they didn’t panic; they kept attacking,” Ibrahimovic added. “Scaloni kept pushing by putting more offensive players. Lautaro Martínez came in at the end. I mean, the best team won”.

The analysis echoed what many England fans had feared: that a one-goal lead against Messi is never enough, and sitting deep against the greatest playmaker in history is a recipe for heartbreak.

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From ‘Animal’ to ‘God’

Ibrahimovic’s admiration for his former Barcelona teammate has been a recurring theme throughout this World Cup. Earlier in the tournament, after Argentina’s comeback victory over Egypt, he had described Messi in more primal terms.

“He became an animal, and nobody could catch him,” Ibrahimovic said at the time. “He just went on, went on … You can see also how emotional he is, how much it means for him”.

Now, with Argentina one win away from back-to-back world titles, the Swede has elevated his praise from the animal kingdom to the divine. In doing so, he has woven Messi’s performance into the same tapestry as Maradona’s—a comparison that carries immense weight in Argentine football lore.

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Four Decades of History, One Night in Atlanta

For England, the defeat reopened old wounds. In 1986, Maradona’s “Hand of God” and subsequent “Goal of the Century” ended their World Cup hopes in Mexico. In 1998, it was David Beckham’s red card and a penalty shootout loss. Now, 28 years later, Messi has added his own chapter to the rivalry—not with controversy, but with sheer, undeniable brilliance.

As Argentina prepares to face Spain in Sunday’s final, Ibrahimovic’s words will linger. The “Left Foot of God” and the “Right Foot of God” have done their work. And when Messi switches on, as the world witnessed in Atlanta, everyone—fans, pundits, and opponents alike—can only watch in fear and awe.

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