Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said he believed he would "take over the world" even though he grew up in what he said was "a ghetto."
Manchester United striker Ibrahimovic was speaking after the Swedish FA revealed that a statue of him would be put up outside the Friends Arena in Stockholm.
The 35-year-old scored a record 62 goals in 116 appearances for Sweden before retiring from international duty in the summer.
Ibrahimovic, the son of a Croatian mother and Bosnian father, told MUTV: "I come from a small area in Malmo -- the ghetto, they call it -- and I get a statue in the capital city of Sweden.
"I wouldn't have believed it because I felt different; I didn't feel like the other ones -- where I came from, because of my background. But I believed that I would take over the world, that's for sure."
The statue has been created by artist Peter Linde and features the player in an arms-aloft pose.
Ibrahimovic added: "It's like a gesture or a movement from a game -- a typical Zlatan movement.
"I've been a little bit critical because I wanted the statue to be like me: massive, powerful, magic, wow.
"All these combinations I wanted to get into it, but he's done a great job -- he's a great artist. He has his way of seeing things and he made it like a symbol that would live forever.
"Normally you get a statue when you pass away, but I am alive. I'm super happy. I'm honoured."
Ibrahimovic said Sweden was "my country" and added: "Whatever I do, I represent Sweden. I will always go back there.
"I cannot describe the words -- the whole career I went through, it has been a big adventure with many things happening and this is the outcome. I get a statue. I cannot ask for more."