Joga bonito zlatan ibrahimovic biography

Has football ever truly become “the beautiful game” it claims to be? Perhaps not, but Nike gave it a good go with their sensational Joga Bonito ad campaign back in the mid-noughties.

The phrase “Joga Bonito” is Portuguese for “play beautiful”, and the series of short videos was designed to combat cynicism in the game and promote skill and elegance – a concept undermined somewhat by the employ of Eric Cantona, famed for an ugly incident in which he kicked a fan.

In the long term, perhaps Joga Bonito failed to inspire a footballing utopia, but it did leave us with some formative football clips which inspired a generation to at least TRY to play nice.

Ronaldo v Zlatan

A good decade later, and these two are still arguably at the top of their respective games: Cristiano Ronaldo v Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Both show off some silky skill, aided by some utterly useless defending, before Eric Cantona declares he can’t choose a winner. Thanks Eric, you had one job.

Brazil – the ultimate team

If only England had a couple of tambourines and a more laissez-faire attitude, they might be winning World Cups and creating lovely adverts. Wishful thinking, perhaps.

This is Ronaldinho at his tambourine-s

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