Sunday, following AC Milan’s final Serie A match, the player announced his retirement from the sport.
Ibrahimovic stated on the San Siro pitch following Milan’s 3-1 victory over Verona, “It’s time to say goodbye to football, not just to you.”
Ibrahimovi is well-known for his acrobatic strikes and volleys, powerful long-distance shots, and exceptional technique and ball control. He is regarded as one of the greatest strikers of all time and is one of the world’s most decorated active footballers, having won 34 trophies in his career.
He has scored over 570 goals in his career, including over 500 goals for his club, and in each of the past four decades.
In 1999, Ibrahimovi began his professional career with Malmo FF. Two years later, he joined Ajax, where he earned a reputation as one of Europe’s most promising attackers. Two years later, he left to join Juventus, and in 2006 he joined Inter Milan, where he won three consecutive Serie A championships.
In the summer of 2009, he moved to Barcelona in one of the most expensive transfers in global soccer history. After only one season, he returned to Italy, signing with Inter’s rival Milan. In his first season with the club, he claimed the Serie A championship.
Ibrahimovi joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2012, guiding them to their first Ligue 1 championship in 19 years and quickly establishing himself as a key figure in their dominance of French soccer.
During his four-year tenure in France, he won four consecutive Ligue 1 titles, was the league’s leading scorer for three seasons, and became PSG’s all-time leading scorer. In 2016, he joined Manchester United on a free transfer and claimed his first European title in his rookie season. Ibrahimovi joined the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2018 and returned to Milan in 2020, capturing his fifth Serie A title in 2022.
Ibrahimovi is one of eleven players with a 20-year international career who have made 100 or more appearances for the Swedish national team. With 62 goals, he holds the record as the nation’s all-time leading scorer. He played for Sweden at the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups and the 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 UEFA European Championships.
He has won Guldbollen (the Golden Ball), which is presented to the Swedish player of the year, a record 12 times, including 10 consecutive years from 2007 to 2016.
The 35-yard bicycle kick goal scored by Ibrahimovi for Sweden against England, which claimed the 2013 FIFA Puskás Award and is frequently regarded as one of the greatest goals of all time, was awarded the FIFA Puskás Award.
Ibrahimovi was selected to the FIFA FIFPro World XI in 2013, as well as the UEFA Team of the Year in 2007, 2009, 2013, and 2014. In 2013, he reached his highest FIFA Ballon d’Or finish of fourth.
In 2015, UEFA recognized him as one of the finest players who have never won the UEFA Champions League, while in 2019, FourFourTwo magazine ranked him as the third-greatest player who has never won the competition.
In December 2014, the Swedish publication Dagens Nyheter ranked him as the second-greatest Swedish athlete of all time, following the tennis player Bjorn Borg.
In addition to his third-person self-reference, Ibrahimovi is known off the field for his boisterous personality and outspoken comments.