Swedish soccer legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic, widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers of his generation, has announced his retirement from professional soccer at the age of 41. The announcement came following his team AC Milan’s final game of the season, a 3-1 victory over Hellas Verona. Ibrahimovic bid farewell to the club’s fans at the San Siro stadium, expressing his gratitude for their support throughout his career.
With a career spanning 24 years, Ibrahimovic played for nine clubs and scored an impressive 561 goals for both club and country. He retires as Sweden’s all-time leading goal scorer, with 62 goals in 121 international matches. Despite retiring from international football after Euro 2016, Ibrahimovic made a brief comeback for Sweden’s World Cup qualifying campaign in 2021.
Known for his flair and charisma on and off the field, Ibrahimovic enjoyed success with some of Europe’s biggest clubs. He began his professional career with Malmö FF in his native Sweden before moving to Ajax in the Netherlands. After winning domestic titles and cups with Ajax and Juventus, Ibrahimovic had stints at Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester United.
During his time in Italy, Ibrahimovic won multiple Serie A titles with Juventus and Inter Milan. He also experienced success in Spain, winning the La Liga title with Barcelona. Throughout his career, Ibrahimovic accumulated an impressive collection of trophies, including domestic league titles and cups, with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United.
In 2018, Ibrahimovic joined Major League Soccer (MLS) side LA Galaxy, where he made an immediate impact by scoring two remarkable goals on his debut. However, his desire to compete at the highest level led him back to AC Milan in early 2020. Despite injury setbacks limiting his appearances in his final season, Ibrahimovic etched his name in history by becoming the oldest goal scorer in Serie A at the age of 41 years and 166 days.
As Ibrahimovic bids farewell to the sport, he expressed a desire to take some time off and reflect on his career before making any decisions about the future. With his remarkable goal-scoring record, charismatic personality, and captivating playing style, Ibrahimovic has left an indelible mark on the world of soccer.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s retirement marks the end of an era for soccer fans around the globe. His contributions to the sport will be remembered, and his legacy as one of the most talented and entertaining players of his generation will continue to inspire future generations of players.