Zlatan Ibrahimovic retirement: When and at what age Sweden, AC Milan star plans to end career

Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has had a tumultuous career so far and despite his aging, it doesn’t look like he’s slowing down any time soon.

The AC Milan striker was recently the oldest goalscorer in Serie A history and will play for Sweden in Euro 2024 qualifiers.

Ibrahimovic is still fresh from a serious knee injury that required three surgeries and is determined to hang up the boots on his own terms.

But when does the striker say goodbye and how much football does he still have? The sports news check it out

MORE: When did AC Milan last win the Champions League?

How old is Zlatan Ibrahimovic?

Ibrahimovic is currently 41 years old and will turn 42 on October 3, 2023.

The Swede started his professional career in 1999 as an 18-year-old at Malmo.

The striker had caused a stir long before that when Arsenal tried unsuccessfully to take Ibrahimovic to court.

“Arsene Wenger asked me to do a trial at Arsenal when I was 17. I declined. Zlatan doesn’t audition,” said Ibrahimovic.

When will Zlatan Ibrahimovic retire?

Despite recent injury woes, Ibrahimovic is yet to give any indication that he is ready to retire.

The 41-year-old is under contract at AC Milan until July 2023 and appears determined to continue playing beyond that.

“If everyone says it’s enough, it doesn’t work. Then I get an adrenaline rush,” said Ibrahimovic in March 2023 when he signed up for international assignments with Sweden.

“I just want to keep going. I could have quit after winning the Scudetto with Milan, but it would have been too easy. It wasn’t a degree that suited me either.

“I want to advance, I want to challenge myself. I do not give up. Challenges give me adrenaline. Even you journalists have written about me since my youth and said that I was too different, chaotic and self-centered. Everything. You helped me and you still do. I always have this desire within me to show the doubters wrong.”

With Ibrahimovic looking to help Sweden qualify for Euro 2024, he may see the tournament as an ideal time to retire as the prolific goalscorer will be 42 when the tournament begins.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic in international retirement

Ibrahimovic previously retired from international duty after hanging up the Sweden shirt for a few years after Euro 2016.

Within a year, the forward declared a desire to return, but he would not make his comeback until March 2021.

The forward would miss Euro 2020 through injury but made a cameo appearance in Sweden’s World Cup playoff in 2022.

Ibrahimovic was called up to Sweden’s first squad in 2023, with coach Janne Andersson stressing he will be limited to a back-up role.

Despite this, the forward believes he still has a place in the national team.

“Yesterday I said to my national team-mates that they are probably wondering what else I’m doing here,” said Ibrahimovic.

“They will think I’m stupid to still be here at 41 to play for the national team. But then I told them to wait until I was close to the end of their career and then they will understand why they still are.” Here.

“You don’t want to stop, you want to keep going.”

Goals by Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Ibrahimovic has scored goals everywhere, including in four of Europe’s five major leagues.

He is also Sweden’s all-time top goalscorer, having overtaken long-time record-holder Sven Rydell in 2014.

	games	Goals
Sweden	121	62
AC Milan	163	93
LA galaxy	58	53
Manchester United	53	29
PSG	180	156
Barcelona	46	22
Inter Milan	117	66
juventus	92	26
ajax	110	48
Malmo	47	18
IN TOTAL	987	573

Has Zlatan ever played in a World Cup, Euro?

No stranger to the big stage, Ibrahimovic has played for Sweden at both the World Cup and European Championships.

The forward has participated in two World Cups, in 2002 and 2006, but failed to score in five games.

He did much better at the Euros, playing in four tournaments and scoring six goals.

competition	games	Goals
World Cup 2002	2	0
Euro 2004	4	2
World Cup 2006	3	0
EURO 2008	3	2
euro 2012	3	2
Euro 2016	3	0