The following contains spoilers from Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 3, "4-5-1," now streaming on Apple TV+.

In the previous episode of Ted Lasso, Rebecca cornered the famed soccer player Zava at the urinal to get him to sign with Richmond. If their unsanitary, odd meet-and-greet doesn't foreshadow the downfall of Zava's signing to the team, then the strange arrangement Zava has created in Season 3, Episode 3, "4-5-1" will. On the one hand, Zava has made the universally laughed at AFC Richmond a threat in the Premier League, but on the other, the relationship between him and his teammates is most definitely toxic.

It's not a coincidence that Roy Kent warns Trent Crimm that his book about the team will turn into a fairy tale. The team is currently living in a fantasy, in awe of the greatest soccer star playing with them. And it's easy for them to step to the side when his majestic presence commands the entire field. But in the world of Ted Lasso, little is ever as good as it seems, and the fairy tale of Zava may have a dark ending.

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Who Is Ted Lasso's Zava Inspired By?

Rebecca and Rupert smiling behind Zava in Ted Lasso

From his first appearance, the striking resemblance Zava has to soccer players in real life is uncanny. Actor Maximilian Osinksi claimed to have taken inspiration from real soccer players for his role of Zava. Among the list are Eric Cantona and Robert Lewandowski, but the soccer player that viewers speculate Zava is inspired most by is Zlatan Ibrahimović. From the slick back ponytail to the neatly trimmed facial hair, Ibrahimović and Zava are almost mirror images. The Swedish soccer player is known as the country's top player who utilizes acrobatic kicks and headers, similar to Zava.

On his first day with AFC Richmond, Zava showed nothing but kindness to his teammates. Sure, he was two hours late because he was sitting behind Rebecca's crumb-coated desk, but he took the time to recognize everyone's importance to the team. He praised Ted as the leader, addressed Higgins as the team's rock and took the time to stop by Sam's restaurant.

On first impression, he appears to be a real team player that wants to help Richmond win. And it doesn't take Rebecca's psychic to predict what Zava brings to the team. He puts on a show as he scores win after win, pushing the team to the number three spot in the Premier League. It's all fun and games, and almost everyone accepts being on the sidelines if it means Richmond becomes the respected team it was always meant to be. It even benefits Rebecca, who can now worry less about the state of AFC Richmond and more about her personal life.

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Zava's Ego Could Score a Big Loss for AFC Richmond

Ted Lasso standing behind Zava in the locker room

Zava's short time on the team has already proven to be the best decision Rebecca and Ted have made yet, but how long will it be until the tranquility turns into chaos? In the previous episode, the management team debated whether to swoon Zava over because of the risk of dealing with his diva-like reputation. Even Keeley warns Ted that everyone has to adapt to him because, ultimately, what Zava wants, Zava gets. But the "diva" Ted and the others are worried about is suppressed by the scores and cheers of screaming fans. The only person who appears to recognize Zava's over-inflated ego is Jamie, likely because Jamie was Zava before he straightened up his attitude.

Still, no one else has taken issue with worshiping Zava. Before his arrival, he's granted four lockers with his name printed on them, a television and a meditation corner. Zava completely disregards the value of teamwork when he lives up to the single digit at the end of the episode's title, "4-5-1," for which almost everyone falls on their knees for. Zava enjoys being the center of attention, and the only way he can be so is if he's in a room with players who aren't as great as him. So what happens when someone better does come along?

With Jamie playing second fiddle, jealousy brews. The Jamie Ted Lasso introduced fans to in Season 1 isn't completely gone; he still likes being the best, but he manages to water this desire down to work with the team. Zava's messianic presence offers an opportunity for Roy and Jamie to work on rising to the top and building their slow-burn bond, but it likely won't go unnoticed. It'll only take one score from Jamie to break the rose-colored glasses everyone's been wearing around Zava. Let's hope it happens after Richmond beats West Ham, but knowing Ted Lasso's luck, the timing won't be on the American coach's side.

New episodes of Ted Lasso premiere every Wednesday on Apple TV+.