Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the legendary Swedish footballer, has announced his retirement from the sport at the age of 41. The announcement came after AC Milan’s Serie A match against Verona, which Ibrahimovic watched from the sidelines due to a calf injury he suffered in April. After the match, he was seen on the San Siro pitch clapping as the home fans gave him a standing ovation. Ibrahimovic was visibly moved by the reception and choked back tears, while emotional supporters were spotted crying in the stands. AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali was also seen wiping a tear away from his eye.
Before the match, club legend Paolo Maldini handed Ibrahimovic an award as he delivered a speech. He thanked his family, close friends, and the club’s players, coach, and staff for their support. He also thanked the directors for the opportunity they gave him. However, his most emotional words were reserved for the fans. “You welcomed me with open arms and I will be a Milanista my entire life,” he said. “It’s time to say goodbye to football, but not to you.”
Ibrahimovic hinted that he may return to AC Milan in some capacity in the future, saying “I’ll see you around if you are lucky.” He returned to the club in 2020 for a second spell and won the Serie A title in his second season, adding to the championship he won in 2010-11 during his first spell. Overall, he scored 93 goals in 163 appearances for AC Milan.
Ibrahimovic scored 511 club goals while playing for illustrious clubs including Malmo, Ajax, Juventus, Barcelona, Inter, PSG, Man Utd, LA Galaxy, as well as AC Milan. For Sweden, he scored 62 times in 122 games and is their all-time top scorer. Despite his achievements, he never won the Ballon d’Or, with his highest finish being fourth place in 2013. Last month, it appeared he would continue his football career with Monza, who had reportedly offered him a deal to play next season. However, Ibrahimovic has now decided to retire from football for good.