The good news is that the World Cup qualifying play-off between Portugal and Sweden is going to be box-office. Cristiano Ronaldo v Zlatan Ibrahimovic battling it out for a place in Brazil next summer. The bad news is that one of these footballing superstars will be forced to sit out the greatest show on earth.

So which player does the world most want to see emerge victorious after the second leg next Tuesday? Sportsmail’s team put their case forward here, and you can have your say by leaving a comment below. Ronaldo, or Ibrahimovic, you decide…

MATT LAWTON

Ronaldo. How can it be anyone else? One of the two best players in the world, and therefore superior even to Ibrahimovic, but also part of a Portugal team that really ought to be at a World Cup in Brazil.

IAN LADYMAN

The answer is simple: Ronaldo. He is a genuine world star while Ibrahimovic is merely a very good player who only turns it on once in a while. To light up a major tournament, you need to be committed, focused and durable. Ronaldo is all of these things while Ibrahimovic — from what I have seen of him over the years — is not.

NEIL ASHTON

Ronaldo is the best player in the world right now and that alone is enough to justify him being in Brazil next summer. Ibrahimovic plays in a one-man team and good luck to Sweden, but they’re not going to trouble the World Cup next summer if they get there.

LEE CLAYTON

Tough call. I want both poster boys there. Ibra missed the last World Cup, so he surely deserves a go but the World Cup won’t be the same without the Ronaldo v Messi debate. Ronaldo is the better player. It has to be him. I feel quite sad writing this. Ibrahimovic is such a marvellous footballer, as his propeller-kick goal proved against England. Sorry, Zlatan. It has to be Ronaldo.

BRIAN LEE

If it was the Real Ronaldo v Ibra in a PSG kit I’d probably go the other way but on the international stage it’s Ibrahimovic and the Swedes for me. Let’s be honest, the winners of this play-off tie won’t be crowned world champions next summer but the unpredictable Ibrahimovic is guaranteed to make the most of his moment in the spotlight. Plus, my wife’s got Swedish cousins.

CHRIS CUTMORE

Ronaldo is a superstar. But has he ever scored a propeller kick from 35 yards? Or screamed ‘you have no b****!’ at Pep Guardiola? Or thrown fireworks at a kebab stand? Ok so the last one is a bit naughty, but Ibrahimovic is a true footballing maverick who is finally getting the recognition he deserves as one of the modern greats.

JOHN EDWARDS

Ronaldo every time. There might be a moment of magic from Ibrahimovic but there’s just as likely to be 90 minutes of mediocrity that leaves you sinking deeper into it. Ronaldo, on the other hand, comes with a virtual guarantee of seeing something beyond most mere mortals. We’re talking football’s greatest showpiece here. It can’t go ahead without the game’s greatest showman, surely?

DOMINIC KING

It has taken me a while to warm to Zlatan’s unique talents (for a spell I felt he was hugely over-rated) but while there is now no disputing that he is not world class, he is not in Ronaldo’s league. It would be a crying shame if Ronaldo did not get the opportunity to dazzle on the biggest stage, as he is the complete footballer. I’d go as far to say I would prefer to see Ronaldo more than Lionel Messi.

MIKE ANSTEAD

The World Cup is in Brazil, so it’s got to be Ronaldo. He’s got a Brazilian name and plays like one, too. Ibrahimovic can spend his quiet summer writing another book.

LAURA WILLIAMSON

Ronaldo. I would tend to agree with Arsenel Wenger that my favourite preening, posing pantomime villain has overtaken Lionel Messi in the last few months to become the best footballer on the planet. (Plus I think he will fit right in on the Copacabana beach).

ANDREW MAGEE

In the man’s own words: ‘there is only one Zlatan’. Ronaldo is an exceptional player in exceptional form, but he’s a bit, well, boring. With Ibrahimovic, you never quite know what he’s going to do next — that’s why he’s such a joy to watch. Plus, it could be Ibra’s last chance to play in a World Cup. He deserves to show off to the world — and talk about himself in the third person — one last time.

MAX PATERSON

We need to see Ibrahimovic strutting majestically at the World Cup. He leads Sweden well and his performance and motivation appears enhanced with the extra responsibility and focus of being the side’s key man. Ronaldo appears smothered at times by being Portugal’s best player. He often fails to deliver for his national side like he does for Real Madrid.

MATT BARLOW

Both huge personalities and brilliant footballers and a shame one of them won’t be there. But then neither will Gareth Bale and possibly Franck Ribery if France lose to Ukraine. Zlatan seems to be getting better with age but if someone was handing out tickets to see one of them in action, I’d take the Ronaldo ticket because the sight of him in full flight is exhilarating.

CHRIS WHEELER

Ronaldo, without a doubt. Ibrahimovic is capable of individual moments of brilliance, as England found to their cost, but you can’t beat the Real Madrid star for sheer entertainment value. Who doesn’t want to see those mesmerising dribbles, stepovers and set-pieces at next summer’s World Cup? Not to mention the bit when Portugal get knocked out and he starts crying…

LAURIE WHITWELL

Ronaldo without a doubt. Ibrahimovic brings swagger, a spectacular goal threat, and the chance of fireworks but Ronaldo is simply one of the best to ever play the game. A scoring freak capable of phenomenal moments of skill, and a magnetic persona to boot.

LUKE BENEDICT

Although Zlatan is capable of greatness — those flicks, tricks and goals that defy both the rules of human anatomy and elementary physics — Ronaldo consistently performs at a level that the warrants the global stage. But, most of all, I pick Ronaldo because I want to see Sepp Blatter hand him the trophy.

JANINE SELF

Both hugely talented but CR7 edges it because he works harder, looks fitter and cares more. Ibra needs to be the centre of attention and his motivation appears to be fuelled by money, hence his transfers. Ronaldo is in it for trophies, Ibrahimovic personal glory.

SAM CUNNINGHAM

Why wouldn’t you want both of the best players in the world at a World Cup? Ronaldo has the chance to cement his place as one of the greatest players ever if he could somehow lead a distinctly average Portugal side to their first ever major trophy and it’s his chance to finally get one over rival Lionel Messi. Ronaldo has the potential to sew himself into the fabric of sporting history.

DAN WILLIS

Ibrahimovic. Ronaldo is clearly the better player, but with that comes the preening, the constant glances at the big screen whenever the cameras are on him. Zlatan isn’t exactly lacking when it comes to ego, either. But given he modelled his flamboyant style on Brazilian football as a child, a World Cup finals there would be a fitting to way for the 32-year-old to bow out at a major tournament.

MATT LAWLESS

It’s hard not to admire the enigmatic Ibrahimovic. He’s in the form of his life with PSG and I’d have no complaints with seeing him in Brazil. But Ronaldo is a genius. For me, he is the best player in the world at the moment. I would like to see the Real Madrid man in Rio, largely because England owe him one for his winking in 2006… plus, I couldn’t bare another group game against Sweden!

RIATH AL-SAMARRAI

Ronaldo. Ibrahimovic is box office and you never quite know when he’ll do or say something ridiculous. But Ronaldo, in my view, is one of the two greatest players to have lived. His rivalry with Messi is surely the best there has ever been in football and so long as Ronaldo is at the World Cup we have the prospect of them facing off.

DAN RIPLEY

One of the fascinations in recent major tournaments has been seeing just how far Ronaldo can drag a competent but average Portugal side into a competition. Ronaldo’s one-man show is much more likely to be a success in Brazil than it would be for Zlatan and Sweden. Of course that means no propeller goals — but Ibrahimovic only ever did that in a friendly anyway.

PHIL DUNCAN

It’s time to let Ibrahimovic take centre stage. What’s not to love about a man who once told Arsene Wenger, ‘Zlatan doesn’t do auditions’ after he was asked to trial for Arsenal as a 17-year-old? Or how about the time when he was reportedly asked what he’d bought his wife for her birthday? ‘Nothing, she already has Zlatan,’ came the response. Forget Ronaldo. The World Cup needs Zlat.

ALEX HORLOCK

Cristiano in his prime or Zlatan’s last stand? For me, it’s got to be Ronaldo. I know watching Portugal at major tournaments hasn’t been palatable viewing for England fans but I’ve always wanted to see the best teams and players turn out at World Cups and European Championships. I don’t think it’s controversial to suggest Ibra isn’t as good as Ronaldo, even if he might think otherwise.

CHARLIE SKILLEN

It’s got to be Ronaldo — he’s above Messi as the best player in the world for me. I’d also feel sorry for him if he wasn’t there. Ronaldo’s at his absolute peak, with his frankly ridiculous record at Real Madrid making him an even more complete player than he was at his Old Trafford best — this should be his World Cup. He’ll be 33 at the next one, he’s got to be in Brazil.

SUNNI UPAL

Without question Ronaldo. At the moment Ronaldo is the best player in the world and we need the best to be in Brazil. Ibrahimovic is capable of producing moments of magic, like he did for Sweden against England, but his inconsistency at the top level lets him down. If Ronaldo goes to the World Cup, that means Portugal do as well. I’d rather tune in to watch them play instead of Sweden.

DECLAN WARRINGTON

For charisma, Ibrahimovic. For every other reason, Ronaldo. Ibrahimovic may be one of the most entertaining characters in the game but Ronaldo’s simply superior. Add that to the potential for another England-Portugal World Cup showdown, as well as Ronaldo against Spain and all of the Barca-Real subplots that would involve, and Ibrahimovic is little more than a distant memory.

ELLIOTT BRETLAND

Both are supremely talented players capable of scoring stunning goals and creating moments of magic but Ronaldo edges it for me; It would be a travesty not to have a player like Cristiano Ronaldo at the World Cup. Imagine if the Swede’s get knocked out in the group stage – we’d be without Zlatan AND Ronaldo in the knockout stages. That would be disastrous (even if great news for England!)

THE FINAL VERDICT….

Ronaldo: 22 Ibrahimovic: 6

—Daily Mail