Zlatan Ibrahimović

Zlatan Ibrahimović
Name	Zlatan Ibrahimović
Caption	Ibrahimović playing for AC Milan in 2019
Birth date	3 October 1981
Birth place	Malmö, Sweden
Height	1.95 m
Position	Striker
Years1	1999–2001
Clubs1	Malmö FF
Caps1	40
Goals1	16
Years2	2001–2004
Clubs2	Ajax
Caps2	74
Goals2	35
Years3	2004–2006
Clubs3	Juventus
Caps3	70
Goals3	23
Years4	2006–2009
Clubs4	Inter Milan
Caps4	88
Goals4	57
Years5	2009–2011
Clubs5	Barcelona
Caps5	29
Goals5	16
Years6	2010–2011
Clubs6	→ AC Milan (loan)
Caps6	29
Goals6	14
Years7	2011–2012
Clubs7	AC Milan
Caps7	32
Goals7	28
Years8	2012–2016
Clubs8	Paris Saint-Germain
Caps8	122
Goals8	113
Years9	2016–2018
Clubs9	Manchester United
Caps9	33
Goals9	17
Years10	2018–2019
Clubs10	LA Galaxy
Caps10	56
Goals10	52
Years11	2020–2023
Clubs11	AC Milan
Caps11	64
Goals11	34
Nationalyears1	2001–2023
Nationalteam1	Sweden
Nationalcaps1	122
Nationalgoals1	62

Zlatan Ibrahimović is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a striker. Renowned for his acrobatic strikes, powerful play, and charismatic personality, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest forwards of his generation. Over a 24-year career, he won 34 trophies, playing for elite clubs across Europe including Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester United, before concluding his career with a second stint at AC Milan.

Early life and career

Born in Malmö to a Bosniak father and a Croat mother who immigrated to Sweden, Ibrahimović grew up in the Rosengård district. He began playing football at age six, joining local club FBK Balkan before moving to Malmö FF's youth academy. His professional debut came for Malmö FF in 1999 during the Allsvenskan, Sweden's top division, where his performances attracted the attention of major European scouts, leading to a transfer to Dutch giants AFC Ajax in 2001.

Club career

At AFC Ajax, under manager Ronald Koeman, he won two Eredivisie titles and the Johan Cruyff Shield. A move to Serie A with Juventus followed in 2004, where he won two Supercoppa Italiana titles before the club's titles were revoked due to the Calciopoli scandal. He then joined Inter Milan in 2006, winning three consecutive Serie A titles under managers Roberto Mancini and José Mourinho. A high-profile transfer to FC Barcelona in 2009 brought a La Liga title and the Supercopa de España, though his tenure was brief. After a loan to AC Milan, he made the move permanent, winning another Serie A title. His subsequent transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2012 was record-breaking, and he became the club's all-time top scorer, winning four consecutive Ligue 1 titles. He then had spells with Manchester United, winning the UEFA Europa League and EFL Cup, and LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer, before returning to AC Milan in 2020, helping them win the Serie A title in the 2021–22 season.

International career

Ibrahimović made his debut for the Sweden national football team in 2001 and earned 122 caps, scoring 62 goals. He represented his country at two FIFA World Cup tournaments (2002, 2006) and four UEFA European Championship tournaments (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016). He served as team captain from 2010 until his international retirement in 2016, though he briefly returned for World Cup qualifiers in 2021. His iconic bicycle kick goal against England in 2012 won the FIFA Puskás Award.

Style of play and reception

A prolific and versatile striker, Ibrahimović was celebrated for his exceptional technical skill, strength, aerial ability, and powerful long-range shooting. He was particularly famous for scoring spectacular and acrobatic goals, including numerous bicycle kicks. Throughout his career, he received many individual accolades, including multiple Guldbollen awards as Swedish Footballer of the Year, and was named in the UEFA Team of the Year and FIFA FIFPro World11. His confident, outspoken persona made him a prominent figure both on and off the pitch, often generating headlines in media outlets like Aftonbladet and BBC Sport.

Personal life

Ibrahimović is married to former Swedish model Helena Seger, and the couple has two sons. He holds a black belt in taekwondo and has numerous business interests, including a clothing line and ownership stakes in Hammarby IF, a move that caused controversy in his hometown of Malmö. He is known for his philanthropy, having made significant donations to UNICEF and the World Food Programme. His life and career have been documented in the autobiography *I Am Zlatan* and the Discovery+ documentary series *Becoming Zlatan*.

Career statistics

Ibrahimović scored over 570 career club goals. In Serie A, he netted 156 goals for Juventus, Inter Milan, and AC Milan. For Paris Saint-Germain, he scored 156 goals in all competitions, becoming the club's record scorer at the time. In Major League Soccer with LA Galaxy, he scored 52 goals in 56 matches. For the Sweden national football team, his 62 goals make him the nation's all-time top scorer. He is one of few players to have scored in the UEFA Champions League for six different clubs.

Category:Swedish footballers Category:Association football strikers