Zlatan Ibrahimovic nearly in tears after Bosnia's historic World Cup triumph: "My emotions get the better of me"

The former Sweden international, whose father is from Bosnia and Herzegovina, appeared as a pundit on FOX's World Cup coverage, where he reflected on Bosnia and Herzegovina's victory over Qatar. During the discussion, Ibrahimovic struggled to hold back his emotions and came close to tears.

Speaking about Bosnia and Herzegovina's achievement, he said moments like these demonstrate the true beauty of football.

"This is what football is all about – bringing people together, especially for Bosnia, a country that has suffered so much. My emotions get the better of me when I see all that happiness. It gives me goosebumps because that's where my father's roots are," Ibrahimovic said.

He was particularly touched by the atmosphere created by Bosnia and Herzegovina's supporters inside the stadium.

"When you see 70,000 people singing... Bosnia and Herzegovina's fans have probably already won the World Cup. I'm happy and proud that they made it through the group stage, but the most special moment was hearing the supporters sing. My emotions have overwhelmed me. I don't even know how to describe it properly. I'm incredibly happy."

Never wore Bosnia's shirt, but never forgot his roots

Although Ibrahimovic represented Sweden throughout his international career, he has never hidden his Bosnian heritage and has often spoken proudly about his father's roots.

His emotional reaction to Bosnia and Herzegovina's historic success quickly spread across social media, with many fans saying they were especially moved to see the famously confident football legend display such raw emotion.

For years, many Bosnia and Herzegovina supporters have considered Ibrahimovic "one of their own", despite the fact he never played for the national team.

As head coach Sergej Barbarez's side continues its historic World Cup campaign, Ibrahimovic's heartfelt words have once again highlighted how Bosnia and Herzegovina's success extends far beyond football, resonating with people around the world who carry the country in their hearts.