AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic retires from football at 41

AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has officially retired from professional football, marking the conclusion of one of the most remarkable careers in the modern era.

After AC Milan’s final match of the season, the 41-year-old Swede bid farewell to the San Siro crowd.

Having previously revealed his departure from the Italian club, Ibrahimovic leaves behind a legacy of 511 goals scored for renowned clubs such as Paris St-Germain, Manchester United, and both AC and Inter Milan. Throughout his career, he secured league titles in four different countries.

Ibrahimovic made his return to AC Milan in early 2020, following his earlier Scudetto triumph with the team in 2011. He played a pivotal role in helping them capture the title once again last season.

However, this term he encountered numerous injuries, limiting his appearances to four games, with a sole start and a single goal. Consequently, his contract was set to expire this month.

Overwhelmed with emotions, Ibrahimovic shared his sentiments with the crowd, saying, “I say goodbye to football but not to you. The first time I came here you gave me happiness, the second time you gave me love. You welcomed me with open arms, you made me feel at home. I will be a Milanista for the rest of my life.”

During his illustrious career, Ibrahimovic amassed an impressive total of 34 trophies, including 14 league titles. He was nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award on 11 occasions.

Despite his extensive success, the Champions League trophy eluded him, with his sole European triumph coming in the form of the 2017 Europa League with Manchester United.

As Sweden’s all-time leading goal scorer, Ibrahimovic netted 62 international goals in 122 matches. Although he retired from the national team after Euro 2016, he made a comeback in 2021 for Sweden’s World Cup qualifying campaign, which proved unsuccessful.

Reflecting on his retirement, Ibrahimovic expressed readiness and acceptance, stating, “I used to be scared when journalists asked me about my future, but now I can accept it, I’m ready. I’ve been doing this all my life. Football made me a man. It allowed me to know people I otherwise would never have known. I’ve travelled the world thanks to football. It’s all thanks to football.”

With a career spanning decades, Ibrahimovic’s journey began with Malmo FF in 1999 before moving to Ajax in 2001, where he clinched three league titles. He subsequently ventured to Italy, first with Juventus in 2004, winning two league titles that were later revoked due to the Calciopoli scandal.

However, he secured three more Serie A titles with Inter Milan before joining Barcelona in 2009. After a brief stint at the Catalan club, Ibrahimovic was loaned to AC Milan in 2010, and the move became permanent in 2011.

In 2012, Ibrahimovic embarked on a new chapter by signing with Paris St-Germain, where he notched an impressive 113 goals in 122 league appearances, capturing four Ligue 1 titles.

In 2016, he transitioned to Manchester United, lifting the League Cup and Europa League trophies during his two-year tenure. After a spell at MLS side LA Galaxy from 2018 to 2019, Ibrahimovic made his triumphant return to AC Milan.