120 Facts About Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club AC Milan and the Sweden national team.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is regarded as one of the greatest strikers of all time and is one of the most decorated active footballers in the world, having won 34 trophies in his career.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored over 570 career goals, including more than 500 club goals, and has scored in each of the last four decades.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic began his career at Malmo FF in 1999, and signed for Ajax two years later, where he gained a reputation as one of the most promising forwards in Europe.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic departed two years later to sign for Juventus before joining domestic rivals Inter Milan in 2006, where he won three consecutive Serie A titles.

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In 2012, Zlatan Ibrahimovic joined Paris Saint-Germain, leading them to their first Ligue 1 title in 19 years and soon establishing himself as a leading figure in their dominance of French football.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic joined American club LA Galaxy in 2018 and rejoined Milan in 2020, winning his fifth Serie A title in 2022.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of eleven players to have made 100 or more appearances for the Swedish national team, over a 20-year international career.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the country's all-time leading goalscorer with 62 goals.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic represented Sweden at the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups, as well as the 2004,2008,2012, and 2016 UEFA European Championships.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been awarded Guldbollen, given to the Swedish player of the year, a record 12 times, including 10 consecutive times from 2007 to 2016.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI in 2013 and the UEFA Team of the Year in 2007,2009,2013 and 2014.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic finished at a peak of fourth for the FIFA Ballon d'Or in 2013.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was what I wanted to be, a guy who made a difference.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was born in Malmo, Sweden, on 3 October 1981.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was born to a Muslim Bosniak father, Sefik Ibrahimovic, who emigrated to Sweden in 1977, and a Catholic Croat mother, Jurka Gravic, who emigrated to Sweden where the couple first met.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic identifies with his mother's faith and considers himself a devout Catholic Christian.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic began playing football at the age of six, after receiving a pair of football boots.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic alternated between FBK Balkan, a Malmo club founded by Yugoslav immigrants, Malmo BI and briefly BK Flagg football clubs.

Concerned with his divorced mother's ability to cope with five children, one of whom, Zlatan Ibrahimovic's half-sister, had a drug problem, at age nine he was sent to live with his father.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic signed his first contract with Malmo in 1996, and moved up to the senior side for the 1999 season of Allsvenskan, Sweden's top-flight league.

Arsene Wenger unsuccessfully tried to persuade Zlatan Ibrahimovic to join Arsenal, while Leo Beenhakker expressed interest in the player after watching him in a friendly against Norwegian side Moss FK.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored five Champions League goals overall as Ajax fell to Milan in the quarter-finals.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's profile rose when he scored an individual goal against NAC Breda on 22 August 2004 – a slaloming run past five opposition players which the commentator compared with Diego Maradona and Zinedine Zidane – that was eventually voted the Goal of the Year by Eurosport viewers.

On 18 August 2004, during an international match against the Netherlands, Zlatan Ibrahimovic injured Ajax teammate Rafael van der Vaart, who later accused Zlatan Ibrahimovic of hurting him intentionally.

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic was promptly inserted into the starting eleven due in part to top scorer David Trezeguet's injury problems, and scored 16 goals.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic said that he had supported Inter when he was young.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic made his debut for Inter on 26 August 2006 against Roma in the 2006 Supercoppa Italiana, playing the full 90 minutes as Inter won after extra time.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic started his third Inter season by winning the Supercoppa Italiana against Roma.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic then scored another double in the Matchday 12 win against Palermo to help Inter take the lead in the Serie A table by one point.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was named both Footballer of the Year and Foreign Footballer of the Year for the second consecutive season.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic left Inter during their United States summer tour in the World Football Challenge on 23 July 2009 for negotiations with Barcelona, with his last match for Inter being against Chelsea.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic passed his medical and was presented to a crowd of over 60,000 at Camp Nou.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored in his next four games, thus setting a team record as the only player ever to score in his first five league matches.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned to action in week 12 of the season against Real Madrid as a second-half substitute for Thierry Henry, and scored his eighth goal of the campaign.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic finished with 11 goals and 4 assists in Barcelona's first 15 league matches.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic signed a four-year deal immediately after successfully passing the medical examinations.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic stated in his defence that he was talking to himself in frustration.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic won his first Scudetto with Milan after a draw against Roma.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the top goalscorer of Serie A, with 14 goals in 16 appearances following a brace against Novara, of which the second goal came from a backheel.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic finished the season as Serie A top scorer with 28 goals in 32 matches.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic thus became the first man to score for six clubs in the UEFA Champions League.

In January 2013, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was handed the number 10 jersey after the departure of Brazilian winger Nene.

On 24 September, it was announced that Zlatan Ibrahimovic had extended his contract with PSG, which would see him stay at the club until 2016.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic ended the Ligue 1 season as top scorer with 26 goals as PSG won a second consecutive league title.

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his first two goals for Paris Saint Germain on 2 August 2014 against Guingamp in the 2014 Trophee des Champions, winning his first silverware of the season.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic ended the match with 102 career goals for PSG, second only to Pauleta.

On 8 May 2016, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was named UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Season for the third consecutive year.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was cheered just before the final whistle, holding his two sons in his arms.

On 21 May 2016, Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice in the second half of the 2016 Coupe de France Final, and set up Edinson Cavani's goal.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was substituted to a standing ovation in the final minutes of the match.

On 1 July 2016, Zlatan Ibrahimovic signed as a free agent for Manchester United on a one-year contract, which had the option of being extended depending on his performance for the club.

Exactly a week after his FA Cup debut, Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored two goals, a free-kick and a header, in the 2017 EFL Cup Final to clinch United's fifth League Cup and to win his second trophy with the club.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic won his first major European title when Manchester United defeated Ajax in the Europa League Final at the Friends Arena in Stockholm, before being named in the UEFA Europa League squad of the season.

On 24 August 2017, it was announced that Zlatan Ibrahimovic had signed a new one-year contract with Manchester United.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced his arrival in idiosyncratic style by taking out a signed full-page advertisement in the Los Angeles Times that simply said, "Dear Los Angeles, you're welcome".

Post match, Zlatan Ibrahimovic stated he was "happy for Toronto because they'll be remembered as my 500th victim".

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was again named both an MLS All-Star and to the Best XI for a second consecutive season.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's goals meant that he had managed to score in each of his last nine starts for the club.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic faced backlash after the match for his statements made in the confrontation, including when pitchside microphones picked up him telling Lukaku to "go do your voodoo" and calling him a "little donkey", with an investigation by the Italian Football Federation to determine if the statements made constituted racial abuse.

On 24 April 2022, Zlatan Ibrahimovic set up Tonali's 90 minute winner against Lazio, helping Milan take the leading spot of the Serie A table.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic contributed with eight goals and three assists during the campaign.

Three days later, Zlatan Ibrahimovic revealed that he had played through an ACL injury for six months during the season, for which he underwent surgical repair that day and would be off the pitch for at least seven months.

In 1999, Zlatan Ibrahimovic played four games and scored one goal for the Sweden U18 team.

In total, Zlatan Ibrahimovic played seven games and scored six goals for the U21 team.

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic was eligible to represent Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina or Croatia at international level; he chose Sweden.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was part of the Sweden squad at the 2002 FIFA World Cup held in Korea and Japan, who were eliminated at the round of 16 by newcomers Senegal.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic appeared twice in the tournament, coming on as a substitute in the group stage game against Argentina and in the round of 16 game against Senegal.

Sweden qualified for UEFA Euro 2004 as group winners, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring three goals throughout the qualifying campaign.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic did not score during the 2006 World Cup finals, as Sweden were knocked out in the round of 16, this time by Germany.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was called up for a Euro 2008 qualifier against Liechtenstein on 6 September 2006, but two days before the match, he violated team curfew by leaving the hotel with teammates Christian Wilhelmsson and Olof Mellberg, visiting a nightclub.

Mellberg and Wilhelmsson did not appeal the coach's decision, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic felt that it was unjust and therefore refused to take part in Sweden's next qualifiers against Iceland and Spain.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic refused to partake in a friendly against Egypt on 7 February 2007, but ended his self-imposed boycott a month later, and returned for Sweden's loss to Northern Ireland on 28 March.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was awarded the 2007 Swedish Golden Ball as the "Country's Top Player of the Year".

Ahead of the Euro 2012 qualification, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was named team captain on his return to the national team by manager Erik Hamren.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored eleven goals during the qualifying phase, making him the second-highest overall top scorer after Poland's Robert Lewandowski.

On 11 May 2016, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was included in the final 23-man squad for Sweden at Euro 2016.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic himself expressed his wish to represent Sweden in the World Cup.

In November 2020, Zlatan Ibrahimovic hinted in a newspaper interview the possibility of returning to the Swedish national side, prompting Sweden manager Janne Andersson to fly to Milan to discuss the matter with him.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic responded to the announcement by simply tweeting "The return of the God".

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has functioned in a more creative playmaking role at times, as a supporting forward or even as a number 10, in particular in his later career, after losing some of his pace and stamina with age; this deeper position allows him to drop into midfield to pick up the ball, where he can utilise his technical ability, vision, passing, and movement to create space and provide assists for teammates.

An accurate finisher with his head as well as with his feet, his height, elevation, and strength often give him an advantage at winning aerial challenges, and allow him to function as a "target man"; despite his large stature, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is uncommonly agile for a player of his size, and his athleticism and ability in the air have seen him score several goals from acrobatic strikes and volleys throughout his career, which earned him the moniker Ibracadabra in the Italian media.

In spite of his size and physique, Zlatan Ibrahimovic possesses excellent technique and ball control, which, coupled with his balance, power, and physicality, enables him to hold up the ball well with his back to goal, retain possession, and link up with other players; he has been praised by pundits for his creativity and dribbling skills.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has drawn praise from managers and teammates for his leadership and longevity, as well as his fitness, professionalism, and dedication in training.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic had the same technical skills as Van Basten and I made him watch some videos of him to improve his finishing.

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a very humble guy and he worked every day to improve.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored in the Helsingborgs IF–Malmo FF "Skanederby" in Sweden, and in El Trafico and the California Clasico in the United States.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has frequently been compared to Dutchman Marco van Basten, due to their similar playing styles, physiques, and proclivity for scoring from powerful shots and volleys; despite this comparison, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has stated that his main influence was his idol, former Brazilian forward Ronaldo, whom he regards as the greatest player of all time.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been likened to the enigmatic French former footballer Eric Cantona, who played for Manchester United.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been involved in several violent incidents with teammates.

When he was playing for Malmo FF's junior team, Zlatan Ibrahimovic headbutted a teammate after he was tackled by him during a training session.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic responded by threatening to break both of van der Vaart's legs.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic reportedly punched Ajax teammate Mido in the dressing room after the latter had thrown a pair of scissors at him.

Barcelona vice president Carles Vilarrubi further revealed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic had threatened to publicly beat up Guardiola if he was not released to Milan.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic stated that Pep Guardiola was "not a man" during an interview with CNN in November 2015.

In 2010, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was involved in a training-ground fist-fight with Milan teammate Oguchi Onyewu, after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had made a two-footed tackle on Onyewu, followed by a headbutt.

In March 2011, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was given a three-match ban for punching Bari defender Marco Rossi in the stomach during a game.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic received another three-match ban in February 2012 for slapping Napoli player Salvatore Aronica.

In 2011, Zlatan Ibrahimovic kicked teammate Antonio Cassano in the head while Cassano was speaking to reporters.

In November 2012, while with Paris Saint-Germain, Zlatan Ibrahimovic received a two-match ban for kicking Saint-Etienne goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier in the chest.

Lovren suggested the reason Zlatan Ibrahimovic had escaped punishment was due to his "superstar status".

In May 2013, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was filmed screaming at PSG sporting director Leonardo after the club's title victory.

Lyon coach Hubert Fournier accused Zlatan Ibrahimovic of abusing officials, stating in January 2015 that "all the referees in this league get insulted by this person".

In 2013, Zlatan Ibrahimovic came under fire from the Sweden women's national team for an interview published on Christmas Day by tabloid Expressen, in which he had commented about the disparity of achievements by, and the treatment of, male and female footballers.

On 21 May 2018, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sent off for slapping Montreal Impact player Michael Petrasso in the head, after the latter had stepped on his foot.

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In May 2019, Zlatan Ibrahimovic received a two-match ban for violent conduct, after he had grabbed New York City FC goalkeeper Sean Johnson by the neck.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic responded to the incident by claiming that the decision had nothing to do with where he began his career.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic used to reside outside Los Angeles when he played for LA Galaxy.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic received an honorary black belt in taekwondo; he attended classes at the Malmo Taekwondo club Enighet as a child.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is fluent in five languages: Swedish, Bosnian, English, Spanish and Italian.

Name "Zlatan" was trademarked in May 2003 at the Swedish Patent and Registration Office for "most likely being perceived as Zlatan Ibrahimovic", meaning he receives exclusive rights to the name for certain products, including sporting goods, clothing, and shoes.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic wears the Nike Mercurial boot line and has the names and dates of birth of his sons embedded onto the external sides of his boots.

On 11 August 2014, Zlatan Ibrahimovic paid US $51,000 to send the Swedish national football team for the intellectually disabled to the INAS World Football Championships in Brazil.

On 8 October 2019, a statue of Zlatan Ibrahimovic was unveiled in his hometown, outside Malmo's Stadion.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic said that he had no interest in nationalism, partially due to his mixed Bosniak-Croat parentage and his younger half-brother being fathered by a Serb.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic believed that the player changed from having Zlatan to having Ibrahimovic on his jersey to honour his background and show to children from Rosengard and Malmo in general: 'If I can do it, you can do it.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who did not play the match, watched the game from the stands and jumped to celebrate once Milan scored, when a fan shouted insults at him, including "balija"—an ethnic slur targeting Bosnian Muslims.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's surname is tattooed in Arabic on the back of his right arm, the names of his sons Vincent and Maximilian on his right arm.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has the common Buddhist "Five Deva Faces Yantra" representing wind, water, fire, creative perception and space, arranged in a way believed to ward off illness and injury, on his lower back, in addition to a roaring lion.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has a feather, a Koi fish, Polynesian tribal, and ace of hearts and clubs.