(CNN) The Thai soccer team whose escape from a waterlogged cave transfixed the world appeared on the US talk show "Ellen" on Monday, where they had a surprise meeting with their hero soccer player Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Dressed in the jerseys of their "Wild Boars" soccer team, the 12 young Thai boys and their coach joined host Ellen DeGeneres to discuss their tense rescue in July.

International cave diving experts evacuated the team members one-by-one through the submerged cave system, in a carefully coordinated operation that captured the world's attention.

As a present, DeGeneres gifted each of the team a personalized soccer jersey with her logo on the front. Then, after asking who their favorite player was, the host revealed football star Ibrahimovic.

Amid excited smiles from the Thai team, Ibrahimovic high-fived all the players before complimenting them on their bravery.

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