Dave Portnoy’s World Cup rabbit hole has now led him to one of football’s most entertaining legends.
The Barstool founder has already admitted this tournament has pulled him deeper into the sport.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has clearly helped push him further in.
Dave Portnoy Zlatan fandom grows through Fox World Cup work
Portnoy praised Ibrahimovic’s Fox Sports panel work and admitted he had gone back through the Swedish striker’s old highlights.
“Zlatan, very good on the panel. I’ve gone down a rabbit hole because I’m a soccer guy, and watched his old highlights, the guy is a monster. How big is he? Played with Messi, all these clips that I’m sure soccer fans have already seen. I am a Zlatan fan.”
It fits Portnoy’s wider tournament arc. He recently said he had caught World Cup fever for the first time, not just because of the games, but because of the fans. He wants the USA to win, but Scotland, Norway, the Netherlands, and Japan supporters have all grabbed his attention.
There is some soccer history, too. Portnoy has previously mentioned rooting for Tottenham and once filmed a pizza review with Harry Kane, but this World Cup has turned casual interest into something louder.
Ibrahimovic has been a perfect entry point. Fox announced him as a World Cup analyst before the tournament, pairing his personality and striker knowledge with Thierry Henry’s calmer tactical work.
Fans have also loved Zlatan’s treatment of Alexi Lalas. His deadpan “Who?” when Lalas was absent, followed by “America, you’re welcome,” quickly became part of the broadcast’s running comedy.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic highlights still create new believers
This is where Portnoy’s reaction becomes completely understandable.
As someone who grew up as the biggest Zlatan fan possible, the highlights remain a ridiculous gateway drug. He was 6-foot-5, technically outrageous, physically nasty, and capable of scoring goals that looked more like taekwondo demonstrations than football plays.
The resume helps too. Ibrahimovic played for Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona with Lionel Messi, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, and LA Galaxy. Fox credited him with 573 career goals, 34 major trophies, and Sweden’s all-time scoring record.
That is why new fans keep finding him. One clip sends you to the overhead kick against England. Another sends you to the kung-fu volleys, backheels, PSG dominance, LA Galaxy swagger, and interviews that sound like movie dialogue.
Portnoy is late to Zlatan, but that is the point of a World Cup. The tournament turns casual viewers into searchers. Zlatan turns searchers into believers.
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