Zlatan Ibrahimović did not have an easy childhood, but thanks to sports, he increased his self-esteem to unsuspected limits. Despite his great height, he moved with the subtlety of a dancer, and, thanks to his wisdom in martial arts, he was able to score unmatched goals. His quality and vision of the game placed him among the best forwards of his time, but his arrogant character prevented him from winning the Champions League and standing out in a World Cup. His critics will say that he is just a highlight player, but when you see those great goals, it is impossible not to admire his game. Presumptuous and narcissistic like few others, Zlatan has become a cult player. A misunderstood artist who shaped body and mind to be a soccer legend. Relax, go get your favorite food, and get ready to remember the career of the soccer karate fighter. Today, in Memories of Football, we say goodbye to the footballer with the most self-esteem in history.
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIĆ: The Rebel Acrobat who scored great goals
The hard beginnings of Zlatan
Zlatan Ibrahomović was born on October 3, 1981, in the Swedish city of Malmö. He grew up in the immigrant neighborhood of Rosengård, where he had a very problematic childhood and was very hungry. His father was an alcoholic Bosnian tormented by war, and his mother was a young Croatian who worked all day away from home. At only 2 years old, Zlatan suffered a divorce from his parents, and throughout his childhood, he suffered ridicule from his peers. The size of her nose and her short stature were joined by her lisp when speaking, becoming a victim of bullying.
That stage hardened the character of young Zlatan, who over the years would learn to defend himself and vent his frustration through sport. He practiced boxing and earned a black belt in Taekwondo, although his true passion was playing soccer with his friends. He began practicing at the age of 8, and at 13, he joined the Malmö youth team, the best team in the city. Accustomed to ghetto life and stealing bicycles, Zlatan had a difficult adaptation and felt very different from the others. At the age of 15, he was about to leave football to get to work, but they convinced him that he had a natural talent that he could not waste. A year later, he became the team’s tallest player and, empowered by his new physique, headbutted a teammate. The parents of the attacked boy asked for his immediate expulsion, but the club gave him a new opportunity.
Malmo FF
On September 19, 1999, Zlatan made his debut with the first team and, two weeks later, scored his first goal. That season, they would play 5 more games, but after a painful season, Malmoe ended up being relegated after 64 years in the elite. In the Swedish second division, Ibrahimović took the starting position, and with 12 goals in 26 games, he became the team’s top scorer to return to the top category. Zlatan’s quality was indisputable, but his cheeky play carried with it a complicated character. Despite everything, offers began to arrive from abroad, and in 2000, Arsenal invited him to London to close his signing. Once there, Wenger said he wanted to see him live before signing the contract, but Ibrahimović was blunt: “Zlatan doesn’t test, I haven’t come to waste my time.
Ajax
In July 2001 Ibrahimović was transferred to Ajax Amsterdam, who paid almost 8 million for his signing. The Swede left Malmö after scoring 18 goals in 47 games and became number 9 for the biggest club in Holland. Almost from the first day, he took over the starting position, and after scoring 9 goals in 33 games, he won the Dutch League and Cup double. That same year, Zlatan debuted with the Swedish national team, and in 2002, he managed to earn a place on the Sweden team’s list World. In Japan, he participated in two games, but his team ended up beaten by Senegal in the round of 16.
The following year, he won the local Super Cup and made his big debut in the Champions League. With 5 goals from Zlatan, Ajax managed to reach the quarterfinals, where they would be eliminated in the last minute by Milan, who would ultimately be the future champion.
With 21 goals in 42 games, Ibrahimović completed his best campaign in Amsterdam and began to attract the attention of the big European clubs. The Swede remained at Ajax for another year, with whom he said goodbye by winning his second League. In total, Zlatan signed 48 goals in 110 games for Ajax.
Euro 2004
The Swedish attacker stood out in the Euro of Portugal, where he managed to score an impossible goal that ended up causing Italy’s elimination. The Nordic “pact” of the last match put Sweden in the quarterfinals, where they faced the Netherlands team. The match ended goalless, and the Scandinavians fell on penalties, with Ibrahimovic sending a shot through the roof.
Juventus
Zlatan’s great Euro Cup accelerated the interest of Juventus, which paid 19 million euros for his signing. Fabio Capello, he saw in his figure that the heir of Van Basten and the Swede ended up meeting the expectations of his new club. In his first season, he scored 16 goals and became an important asset for Juve to win the League title. In his second year, he won his second Scudetto, although this time his scoring contribution was not so fruitful, with 10 goals in 47 games.
During his two seasons in Turin, Juve did not advance beyond the quarterfinals in the Champions League, and Zlatan ended up leaving the club after the scandal of manipulation of referee appointments, known as Calciopoli The sanctions caused the Bianconero team to be dispossessed of the last two leagues and caused an inexorable relegation. Juventus had no choice but to transfer Ibrahimović, who, after scoring 26 goals in 92 games, was heading to Milan.
Inter Milan
Inter paid 25 million euros due to the transfer of the Swedish striker, who before settling at Giuseppe Meazza came to play his second World Cup in Germany. Sweden fell again in the round of 16 after losing to the hosts and, although they still did not know it, Ibrahimović said goodbye to the World Cups without being able to score in the final phase of a World Cup.
Upon his return, Zlatan began his history and vindicated himself by scoring 15 goals, winning the Super Cup and the Italian League. His performance at Inter was always increasing, forming a great duo with the Brazilian Hadrian and marking 66 goals in 117 games played. With the arrival of Mourinho in 2008-2009, Ibra had his best season, scoring 29 goals in all competitions and becoming Calcio’s top scorer. However, their successes in Italy were not replicated in the Champions League, where the Interistas fell for the third consecutive year in the round of 16. In his 3 years at the Neroazzurro club, he won 5 titles and 2 Italian Super Cups.
FC Barcelona
Zlatan was reaching the best moment of his career, and in the summer of 2009, he was claimed by the best team of the moment. Guardiola’s Barcelona had just won the treble and chose him as their new center forward. The culés paid 46 million euros plus the transfer of Samuel Eto’o to dress him in Barça and with a value of more than 70 million, Ibrahimović became the most expensive player in the history of the Barça club to date.
His beginnings in the Catalan club were unbeatable, winning the Spanish Super Cup, and the European Super Cup, and scoring in five consecutive days. Zlatan’s technique and forcefulness suited him like a glove Tiki Taka culé, finished the Sextuple by winning the Club World Cup, leading the League, and reaching the semifinals of the Champions League. Barça’s obsession was to reach the final of the Bernabéu, but Mourinho’s intercrossed their path precisely. The Italians managed to beat Barça 3-1 in Italy and made it to the final after losing narrowly in Barcelona.
That disappointment ended up breaking the bond between Zlatan and Guardiola, who preferred to respond to Messi’s request to play in the most focused areas of the attack. Barça ended up winning the League, but Ibrahimović was displaced and ended up sucking the bench. His situation with the coach became unsustainable and, despite scoring 22 goals in 66 games, packed his bags back to Italy.
AC Milan
In August 2010, Ibra went on loan to Milan, who promised to pay 24 million euros for his transfer at the end of the season. In his first year, he won the Scudetto, and in his second season, he scored 28 goals that made him Calcio’s top scorer. In his two years as a Rossonero, he also had no luck in the Champions League, but he scored 56 goals in 85 games, and he became a Milan idol.
PSG
After participating in the 2012 Euro Cup, PSG paid 20 million for the transfer of Zlatan, who became the star signing of the new and millionaire Parisian project. The Swede was eager to score goals from his first season and brought the necessary character and experience to a club hungry for titles. In his four years in Paris, Ibrahimović scored 156 goals in 180 games, became the club’s all-time top scorer, and won a whopping 12 titles. In France, he won four other consecutive leagues and broke all his scoring records, scoring 50 goals and practically one goal per game in his last season. Despite the club’s progress, neither PSG nor Zlatan were able to convey their successes in Europe, where the French and Swedes continued to fail year after year.
Legend of Sweden
Ibrahimović was also unable to qualify Sweden for the 2014 World Cup after starring in a legendary duel with Portugal in the playoffs. The Swede scored two goals that made his country dream, but El Bicho was revealed with 4 goals that decided the overall tie. After participating in Euro 2016, Zlatan announced his international retirement, although he showed his willingness to return to play in the World Cup in Russia. The Nordic coach ruled out Ibra’s presence in his third World Cup, although in 2021 and after five years of absence, Zlatan once again participated in a World Cup qualifier.
In his entire career, Zlatan participated in 4 European Championships and 2 World Cup events, played 122 games, and scored 62 great goals with the Sweden shirt. His culminating work occurred in November 2012 in a friendly against England. That night, Ibracadra scored four incredible goals, the last of them with one Chilean acrobatic from more than 25 meters that he went around the world and with which he won Puskás Award.
ZLATAN’s Best Goals
Manchester United
After ending his contract, Ibrahimović signed for Manchester United and landed in the Premier League with great goals. The Swede won the Community Shield as soon as he landed in England and became one of the championship’s leading scorers. His reunion with Mourinho aroused the voracity of the Swedish striker who, when he was in his best sporting moment, suffered the most serious injury of his entire career. A torn ligament in his right knee caused Ibra to miss the remainder of the season. United won the Europa League without him on the pitch, but Zlatan had a decisive contribution with 29 goals in 53 games. After months of recovery, Zlatan managed to reappear at the end of the year, but Swede and United agreed to terminate his contract.
THE Galaxy
On March 23, 2018, the Los Angeles Galaxy signed the Scandinavian star, who arrived at the MLS at the age of 36. Its landing in the United States was like that of a Hollywood blockbuster. He debuted in the city derby coming off the bench and scored two great goals to give his team the victory, with a volley from 40 meters and a header in the last minute. Despite not lifting trophies, his impact on the North American league was indisputable, leaving great goals and moments to remember. In his two years at the Galaxy, he scored 53 goals in 58 games, and he said goodbye to the fans with an epic statement.
Return to Milan
Many were waiting for his retirement, but on December 27, 2019, his return to Europe was confirmed. Ibrahimović returned to Milan, for which he would sign for the next six months. The pandemic interrupted his successful return for a few pesos, although the Swede earned a renewal after scoring 11 goals in 20 games. In 2020-2021, Zlatan began to suffer muscle problems and suffer minor injuries, although he managed to score 17 goals in all competitions. In 2021-2022, Ibra once again had knee problems, although he was able to contribute 8 goals to win another Scudetto with Milan, the first since his departure in 2011.
Zlatan was able to dedicate the title to his agent and friend, Mino Raiola, who had recently passed away. Three days later, the Swede revealed that he had played for six months injured, so he took advantage of the summer to undergo knee surgery again. Milan renewed his contract, and after seven months of recovery, Ibrahimović reappeared to become the oldest player to score in the Italian league, at 41 years and 166 days.
Forced Withdrawal
It seemed that Zlatan wanted to continue playing, but faced with his constant knee problems, he decided that his legend as a player had ended. He said goodbye to San Siro in an emotional tribute and, through tears, put an end to an enviable career. Ibrahimović said goodbye with a record of 29 titles, 227 assists, and a total of 580 goals in 999 games.
