Zlatan Ibrahimovic Retires: A Glittering Career Comes to an End

Sports- Football By Nitin Singh wisdomimbibe.com

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, one of football's greatest players, has retired at the age of 41.

[{"selector":"#anim-eedd4fff-64bc-4a7a-9d34-249999fbbfd4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-30593e7b-9112-46b3-8cab-5f661517950b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5d16ce37-4341-45f6-89d0-1883950b5083","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-88239e93-3829-4e70-add6-c90b81126d7c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d662e7d7-4672-4b85-b6e4-8bd6c155d0f8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.220930174487123%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

He bid farewell to football but not to his fans after AC Milan's last game of the season.

[{"selector":"#anim-dc770b83-584d-4d7a-ae40-b0fa12c29918","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e880baf3-b294-452d-82d9-7871e5c1039a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2cd80d07-3069-43e0-9753-c4705d03f8b0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a77c5844-869a-42c9-b0e8-6e20e9767c0a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7bef33d1-ae1d-4605-a518-6a57f5bfc1f2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(29.335879159260692%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

Ibrahimovic had already announced his departure from the Italian club.

[{"selector":"#anim-1f193028-7350-49d6-84e9-35ff3027b4b8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-74e9bb24-da26-4fef-a45d-c46c95ca73e9","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-21f44960-55ab-4236-b798-20db8d91747b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b77a214d-fc42-42ea-86b3-00faaae7392f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b881ba71-dfc5-4a9b-ba0d-ed075ed967e4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(39.315828411717504%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

Throughout his career, he scored an impressive 511 goals for various clubs, winning league titles in four different countries.

[{"selector":"#anim-c478bf3f-bbe1-4157-9d55-cc145eaf617c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bb0e00f1-a44d-476d-9c52-963c08f2d138","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4abe1bec-c1d1-4890-8fba-47b3941ef26b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a19c11bd-96de-45b6-a261-2e9583bd09e0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f85a5d4a-aade-4f29-a7da-cee01e4ceb0c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.306700802206363%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

Ibrahimovic returned to AC Milan in 2020, helping them win the league title last season.

[{"selector":"#anim-231f4b27-35fa-4c2a-9431-d69c7506d579","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-354c649d-ee50-418a-908e-a0e3946b4972","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-88b9e230-c76d-4b80-9150-c072938e1d40","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-11ea2fc6-8705-4d1f-bb5e-c357b1c4ae53","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-39356682-6080-448d-b38e-8b7a3eac4202 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-26.962939558704473%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

Unfortunately, injuries limited his playing time this season, with only four appearances and one goal.

[{"selector":"#anim-4b08ce4a-3eba-4b99-8e5d-05c1762bd2d5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fe19cc27-7c0c-4e9c-b209-f31638f073ec","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-73e39b96-86a4-4957-b76f-f139e036b6da","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eba7eed6-ed56-4985-9c48-a3ec90a33ce5","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d082f00e-fe62-4724-a2e3-2196d8f9a1db [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-21.079009258470823%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

During an emotional speech, Ibrahimovic expressed his gratitude to AC Milan and its fans.

[{"selector":"#anim-830ed382-3c2d-4a89-96d7-44d26ddd59d5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-53a34ed0-e496-4207-be61-93f68beaa50f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-995badec-8761-4f62-940c-8bebbd06dfc3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-01e5501f-d12f-454e-9c80-9c3b243c250f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ec17f6b-a3b9-4d7e-aa38-904cec798a4a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-29.238754199281082%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

Over his career, he won an astonishing 34 trophies, including 14 league titles.

[{"selector":"#anim-181d3c70-a36e-4134-b61c-431e39231071","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-523280f1-cbe6-43d2-a532-7a6ad15aa4b0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5bc2d2f5-fe07-4388-99b6-04b6b8d9c9c0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e3c6627b-9574-4d73-aee9-f8c1ab5abe87","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a4d692da-49c3-49aa-b82e-0c7a3488286b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-27.47937027899361%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

Although he never won the Champions League, he did secure the 2017 Europa League title with Manchester United.

[{"selector":"#anim-6338999b-b980-4f6c-95d8-4767cf8200a6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-48f45658-6839-43a3-b31b-1ba8292c81d7","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-80ac9c6f-9c8e-42bc-acb0-8ebb42abdbb0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-22fbb8c5-0c34-493f-b7df-76e847ee4da1","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ef077bb0-39a2-4d16-8cac-d0adba90186c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-33.56177849416746%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

Ibrahimovic holds the record for the most goals scored by a Swedish player in international matches, with 62 goals in 122 appearances.

[{"selector":"#anim-907d8f1d-132f-4cba-8291-8ede6f8b3747","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b37b5516-5b03-4fe1-a90d-f634d6511b6a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-90261201-a8f5-4ec4-b6c2-77cfd25b2d08","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c47c0793-6f65-4689-904b-1c56216af38b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c4754973-6dd2-429b-b5ae-d10f608ccd63 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-26.92010295273558%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]