Career Timeline of Zlatan Ibrahimović: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Zlatan Ibrahimović made an impact.
Zlatan Ibrahimović is a retired Swedish professional footballer, renowned as one of history's finest strikers. Celebrated for his exceptional technique, ball control, acrobatic goals, and physical prowess, Ibrahimović boasts an impressive record of 34 trophies. Throughout his career, he amassed over 570 goals, surpassing 500 at the club level, and remarkably scored in each decade from the 1990s to the 2020s, solidifying his place as a decorated and enduring figure in the sport.
1977: Surpassed Bianchi's record
In his final Ligue 1 appearance for PSG on 14 May 2016, Ibrahimović scored twice to become PSG's top scorer in a single Ligue 1 season with 38 goals, surpassing Carlos Bianchi's 37 goals in the 1977–78 campaign.
1989: Ligue 1's Top Goalscorer
Zlatan ended the year as Ligue 1's top goalscorer with 30 goals, becoming the first player to reach that mark in the French top flight since Jean-Pierre Papin in the 1989–90 season.
1996: Signed First Contract with Malmö
In 1996, Zlatan Ibrahimović signed his first contract with Malmö, marking an early milestone in his professional career.
1999: Played for Sweden U18 team
In 1999, Ibrahimović played four games for the Sweden U18 team, scoring one goal.
1999: Started career at Malmö FF
In 1999, Zlatan Ibrahimović began his professional football career at Malmö FF in Sweden.
1999: Moved to Malmö Senior Side
In 1999, Zlatan Ibrahimović moved up to the senior side for the season of Allsvenskan, Sweden's top-flight league.
2000: Nordic Football Championship
In 2000, Ibrahimović played his debut in a goalless friendly draw against the Faroe Islands at Tipshallen on 31 January 2001 during the 2000–01 Nordic Football Championship.
January 2001: International debut for Sweden
On 31 January 2001, Ibrahimović debuted for Sweden in a goalless friendly draw against the Faroe Islands during the 2000–01 Nordic Football Championship.
March 2001: Deal Announced with Ajax
In March 2001, a deal was announced between Ajax and Malmö regarding Zlatan Ibrahimović's transfer to Amsterdam, signaling his move to a larger European club.
October 2001: First international goal
In October 2001, Ibrahimović scored his first international goal for Sweden in a 3-0 win against Azerbaijan in a 2002 World Cup qualifier.
November 2001: Co Adriaanse Sacked
In November 2001, Co Adriaanse was sacked, which led to Ibrahimović receiving more playing time under the new coach.
2001: Change of Jersey Name at Ajax
In 2001, upon transferring to Ajax, Ibrahimović changed his jersey name from 'Zlatan' to 'Ibrahimović', which he stated in his autobiography was to honor his improved relationship with his father.
September 2002: Champions League Debut
In September 2002, Zlatan Ibrahimović scored twice in his Champions League debut for Ajax against Lyon, marking a successful start in the competition.
2002: World Cup qualifier
In 2002, Ibrahimović played his first competitive match, a World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan, scoring his first ever international goal in a 3–0 win.
September 2004: Scored four goals against Malta
On 4 September 2004, during the 2006 World Cup qualification campaign, Ibrahimović scored four goals in a 7–0 victory against Malta.
2004: UEFA Euro 2004
In 2004, Ibrahimović participated in UEFA Euro. He assisted one of Freddie Ljungberg's goals and scored from a penalty in a 5–0 win against Bulgaria. Against Italy he scored an 85th-minute equaliser. He also missed a penalty in the quarter-finals against the Netherlands.
2005: Breakthrough with Juventus
In 2005, Ibrahimović experienced a significant breakthrough in his career with Juventus.
2005: Changed Role at Juventus
In 2005, Zlatan Ibrahimović's role in Juventus' attack changed, as he became more involved in build-up play and less of a primary goalscorer.
August 2006: Debut for Inter Milan
In August 2006, Zlatan Ibrahimović made his debut for Inter Milan against Roma in the Supercoppa Italiana.
August 2006: Completed Move to Inter Milan
On August 10, 2006, Zlatan Ibrahimović completed a move to Inter Milan.
2006: Joined Inter Milan
In 2006, Zlatan Ibrahimović signed with Inter Milan, marking a significant step in his career.
September 2007: Played 100th Serie A Match and Signed New Contract
In September 2007, Zlatan Ibrahimović played his 100th Serie A match and signed a new contract with Inter Milan until June 2013.
2007: Self-funded Zlatan Court
In late 2007, Ibrahimović, with the help of Nike, self-funded Zlatan Court in his hometown Malmö, providing a playing mat, goalposts, lighting and a modern fence.
May 2008: Scored Both Goals to Secure Scudetto
In May 2008, Zlatan Ibrahimović scored both goals in a 2-0 victory against Parma on the final day of the 2007-08 Serie A season, securing Inter's second consecutive Scudetto.
2008: Euro 2008 qualifier
In 2008, Ibrahimović did not score in any of the 12 qualifying matches
2008: Donation to Youth Club
In 2008, Ibrahimović donated new Nike kits to his youth club, FBK Balkan.
June 2009: Goal against Malta in 2010 World Cup qualifier
In June 2009, Ibrahimović scored a goal in a 4-0 win against Malta in a 2010 World Cup qualifier.
July 2009: Negotiations with Barcelona
In July 2009, Zlatan Ibrahimović left Inter Milan during their summer tour to begin negotiations with Barcelona for a potential transfer.
August 2009: Debut with Barcelona
In August 2009, Zlatan Ibrahimović made his competitive debut for Barcelona, assisting a goal and contributing to their Supercopa de España victory.
September 2009: Goal against Hungary
In September 2009, Ibrahimović scored a last second goal against Hungary in a 2-1 win for Sweden in their qualification match.
2009: Transferred to Barcelona
In 2009, Zlatan Ibrahimović moved to Barcelona in a high-profile transfer, showcasing his value in the football world.
2009: UEFA Team of the Year Selection
On January 20, 2010, Zlatan was selected in the 2009 UEFA Team of the Year, recognizing his performance throughout 2009.
January 2010: Scored against Sevilla
On January 5, 2010, Ibrahimović scored Barcelona's only goal in a 2–1 loss to Sevilla in the Copa del Rey. Also in January 2010, specifically on January 20, he was selected in the 2009 UEFA Team of the Year.
August 2010: Signed for AC Milan
On August 28, 2010, AC Milan announced the signing of Ibrahimović on loan for the 2010–11 season, with an option to purchase him for €24 million. He signed a four-year deal.
December 2010: Goals and Assists for Milan
In December 2010, Zlatan Ibrahimović assisted Kevin-Prince Boateng and scored in a game against Brescia, contributing to a 3-0 win. He repeated this feat against Bologna, leading to comparisons with Marco van Basten.
2010: Confrontation with Guardiola and Final Goal for Barcelona
Following Barcelona's Champions League defeat to Inter Milan, Zlatan Ibrahimović confronted coach Pep Guardiola. On August 14, 2010, he scored his final goal for Barcelona in the Supercopa de España. On August 25, 2010, he played his last match for the club.
June 2011: Scudetto with Milan and Confirmed Agreements
Zlatan won his first Scudetto with Milan after a draw against Roma. All agreements between Milan and Barcelona were confirmed on June 18, 2011.
2011: Supercoppa Italiana Victory and League Goals
In 2011, Ibrahimović scored in the Supercoppa Italiana against Inter, helping Milan secure a 2-1 victory. He also scored Milan's first goal in the opening league match against Lazio.
2011: Part of the Serie A title team
In 2011, Ibrahimović was part of the team that won the Serie A title.
July 2012: Agreement with Paris Saint-Germain
On July 17, 2012, Paris Saint-Germain confirmed an agreement to acquire Ibrahimović from Milan for a €20 million transfer fee. He signed a three-year contract.
September 2012: Champions League Goal and Record
On September 18, 2012, Ibrahimović scored in the Champions League match against Dynamo Kyiv, becoming the first player to score for six clubs in the competition.
December 2012: Hat-trick Against Valenciennes
On December 11, 2012, Ibrahimović scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 away win against Valenciennes.
2012: Debut and Goals for PSG
In 2012, Ibrahimović made his debut for PSG, scoring twice in a 2-2 draw against Lorient. He also scored twice in a 2-1 win over Lille, PSG's first Ligue 1 win of the season.
2012: Joined Paris Saint-Germain
In 2012, Zlatan Ibrahimović joined Paris Saint-Germain and contributed to their dominance in French football.
2012: Played in the UEFA European Championship
In 2012, Zlatan Ibrahimović played in the UEFA European Championship.
2012: Named Team Captain
In 2012, ahead of the Euro qualification, Ibrahimović was named team captain on his return to the national team by manager Erik Hamrén. He scored his first goals of the qualifying game against San Marino, where he scored the first and fifth goals in a 6-0 win. He also scored a hat-trick against Finland, whom they beat 5-0.
2012: Assists Leader in Champions League
In the 2012-2013 season, Zlatan ended up as the assists leader in the 2012-13 Champions League, providing seven assists.
January 2013: Receives Number 10 Jersey
In January 2013, Ibrahimović was given the number 10 jersey for Paris Saint-Germain after Nenê's departure.
April 2013: Champions League Goal Against Barcelona
In April 2013, during the Champions League quarter-finals, Ibrahimović scored in a 2-2 draw against his former club, Barcelona.
May 2013: Ligue 1 Title and Top Goalscorer
On May 12, 2013, Paris Saint-Germain won the Ligue 1 title. He finished the season as Ligue 1's top goalscorer with 30 goals and was named Ligue 1's Player of the Year on May 20.
June 2013: Contract with Inter Milan Extended Until June 2013
Zlatan Ibrahimović's contract with Inter Milan was extended until June 2013, making him the world's highest paid footballer, as reported.
August 2013: International Hat-Trick against Norway
In August 2013, Ibrahimović scored another international hat-trick in a 4-2 friendly win against Norway.
August 2013: First Goal of the Season
On August 31, 2013, Ibrahimović scored his first goal of the season in a 2–0 victory over Guingamp.
2013: FIFA Puskás Award
In 2013, Ibrahimović won FIFA Puskás Award for Goal of the Year.
2013: Equaled season-best goal record
In April 2016, Ibrahimović equaled his season-best goal record from the 2013-14 season, scoring his 41st goal of the season in a 6-0 win against Caen.
March 2014: Goals against Saint-Étienne
On March 16, 2014, Ibrahimović scored both goals in a 2–0 win over Saint-Étienne, surpassing Carlos Bianchi's club record of 39 goals in a season.
August 2014: Trophée des Champions and League Goals
On August 2, 2014, Ibrahimović scored twice against Guingamp in the Trophée des Champions. Later in August 2014, he scored twice in the first league match against Reims and scored his first league hat-trick against Saint-Étienne on August 31.
September 2014: Became Sweden's all-time leading goalscorer
In September 2014, Ibrahimović scored his 50th international goal, becoming the Swedish national team's all-time leading goalscorer. He also made his 100th appearance for Sweden.
2014: Failed to reach the 2014 World Cup
In 2014, Ibrahimović's team failed to reach the World Cup after a play-off defeat to Portugal. Ibrahimović scored twice in the match.
February 2015: Tattoo Awareness Campaign
On 14 February 2015, Ibrahimović removed his shirt after scoring a goal against Caen to reveal temporary tattoos of 50 names of individuals suffering from hunger worldwide, in order to promote famine awareness in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme.
October 2015: Became PSG's all-time leading goalscorer
On 4 October 2015, Ibrahimović scored two penalty goals in a 2–1 win against Marseille, surpassing Pauleta to become Paris Saint-Germain's all-time leading goalscorer with 110 goals.
November 2015: Scored in Euro 2016 qualifying play-off
In November 2015, Ibrahimović scored the winning goal in the home leg of the Euro 2016 qualifying play-off against Denmark and scored both Sweden's goals of a 2–2 draw in Copenhagen to qualify the nation for the Euro 2016 finals.
December 2015: Became PSG's all-time top goalscorer in the French first division
On 4 December 2015, Ibrahimović scored twice in PSG's 3–0 win over Nice, beating Mustapha Dahleb's record of 85 goals to become the club's all-time top goalscorer in the French first division.
2015: Season as top scorer
Ibrahimović ended the 2015–16 Ligue 1 season as its top scorer, the third time that he had done so.
2015: Netted winner in Coupe de France semi-final
In April 2016, Ibrahimović netted the winner in the 2015-16 Coupe de France semi-final match against Lorient, sending Paris into the final and marking his 42nd goal of the season, setting a new personal best.
February 2016: Scored in Champions League against Chelsea
On 16 February 2016, Ibrahimović scored the opening goal in the 39th minute with a free kick in the Champions League round of 16 first leg against Chelsea, helping his team win 2–1.
May 2016: Final Ligue 1 appearance for PSG
On 14 May 2016, Ibrahimović made his final Ligue 1 appearance for PSG against Nantes, scoring twice in a 4–0 victory and becoming PSG's top scorer in a single Ligue 1 season with 38 goals.
July 2016: Signed for Manchester United
On 1 July 2016, Ibrahimović signed as a free agent for Manchester United on a one-year contract.
2016: Fabio Capello's Comments on Ibrahimović
In 2016, Fabio Capello commented on Ibrahimović's work ethic and improvement during his first spell at Juventus, praising his dedication and technical skills.
2016: Euro 2016 Qualifier
In 2016, Ibrahimović scored eleven goals during the qualifying phase, making him the second-highest overall top scorer after Poland's Robert Lewandowski.
2016: Joined Manchester United
In 2016, Zlatan Ibrahimović joined Manchester United on a free transfer, adding another prestigious club to his career.
2016: Played in the UEFA European Championship
In 2016, Zlatan Ibrahimović played in the UEFA European Championship, continuing his international career.
2016: Scored the match-winning goal in the 2016 FA Community Shield
On 7 August 2016, Ibrahimović scored the match-winning goal for Manchester United in the 2016 FA Community Shield, securing a 2–1 victory against Leicester City.
2016: Contract Extension
On September 24, 2013, Ibrahimović extended his contract with PSG, ensuring he would stay at the club until 2016.
February 2017: Became oldest player to manage 15 goals in a Premier League season
On 5 February 2017, Ibrahimović became the oldest player to manage at least 15 goals in a single Premier League season, scoring his 15th league goal of the season in a 3–0 win against Leicester City.
June 2017: Released by Manchester United
At the end of the 2016-17 season, it was announced that Manchester United would release Ibrahimović at the end of his contract on 30 June 2017.
August 2017: Signed new contract with Manchester United
On 24 August 2017, Ibrahimović signed a new one-year contract with Manchester United and was assigned the number 10 jersey.
2017: Won League Cup with Manchester United
In February 2017, Ibrahimović scored two goals in the 2017 EFL Cup Final to clinch United's fifth League Cup and his second trophy with the club.
March 2018: Contract terminated with Manchester United
On 22 March 2018, Manchester United announced that Ibrahimović had agreed to the termination of his contract.
March 2018: Signed for LA Galaxy
On 23 March 2018, Ibrahimović signed for Major League Soccer (MLS) club LA Galaxy.
April 2018: Ibrahimović not called up for the World Cup
In April 2018, Sweden manager Janne Andersson stated that Ibrahimović would not be called up for the World Cup, ending any possibility of a return.
2018: Joined LA Galaxy
In 2018, Zlatan Ibrahimović joined LA Galaxy, marking his move to American soccer.
March 2019: Became the Swedish player with the most goals in football history
On 31 March 2019, Ibrahimović scored two goals from the penalty spot, reaching 515 career goals and overtaking Gunnar Nordahl to become the Swedish player with the most goals in football history.
August 2019: Nominated for FIFA Puskás Award
In August 2019, Ibrahimović's 500th career goal was nominated for the 2019 FIFA Puskás Award for Goal of the Year.
November 2019: Announced departure from LA Galaxy
On 13 November 2019, Ibrahimović announced he was to leave the LA Galaxy.
December 2019: Returned to AC Milan
On 27 December 2019, Ibrahimović returned to AC Milan on a free transfer.
January 2020: Scored in each of the last four decades
On 11 January 2020, Ibrahimović scored his first goal for Milan since returning, marking the achievement of scoring in each of the last four decades (1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s).
July 2020: Made 100th appearance for AC Milan
On 15 July 2020, Ibrahimović made his 100th appearance for AC Milan.
August 2020: Extended contract with AC Milan
On 31 August 2020, Ibrahimović extended his contract with AC Milan until the summer of 2021.
September 2020: Scored Milan's first goal of the season
On 17 September 2020, Ibrahimović scored Milan's first goal of the 2020–21 season in a 2–0 win over Shamrock Rovers in the Europa League.
November 2020: Hinted Return to National Team
In November 2020, Ibrahimović hinted at a possible return to the Swedish national team in a newspaper interview, prompting manager Janne Andersson to discuss the matter with him.
2020: Rejoined Milan
In 2020, Zlatan Ibrahimović rejoined Milan, returning to the Italian club for another stint.
January 2021: Return from injury and confrontation with Lukaku
In January 2021, Ibrahimović returned from injury and was involved in a confrontation with Romelu Lukaku during a Coppa Italia match. He also scored twice against Cagliari, ensuring Milan stayed at the top of the league. Following the match, Ibrahimović faced backlash for comments made during the confrontation with Lukaku, and was later fined for unsportsmanlike conduct.
September 2021: Oldest non-Italian player to score in Serie A
In September 2021, Ibrahimović made his first appearance for Milan since returning from injury and scored in a 2–0 win over Lazio, and in doing so, at the age of 39 years and 344 days he became the oldest non-Italian player to score a goal in the 123-year history of Serie A, breaking the record previously held by former Parma centre-back Bruno Alves.
2021: Extended contract
On 31 August 2020, Ibrahimović extended his contract with AC Milan until the summer of 2021.
April 2022: Assist against Lazio
On 24 April 2022, Ibrahimović assisted Tonali's 90th minute winner against Lazio, helping Milan take top spot in the league table.
July 2022: Contract Extension with Milan
In July 2022, Ibrahimović signed a one-year contract extension with Milan, continuing his career with the club.
2022: Won Serie A title with Milan
In 2022, Zlatan Ibrahimović won his fifth Serie A title with Milan, adding to his list of achievements.
February 2023: Returns to first-team action
In February 2023, Ibrahimović returned to first-team action after a nine-month absence, in a 2-0 victory over Atalanta.
March 2023: Return to Sweden Squad after Absence
In March 2023, Ibrahimović rejoined the Sweden squad after a one-year absence for European Championship qualifiers against Belgium and Azerbaijan.
December 2023: Hired as Senior Advisor to AC Milan
In December 2023, Ibrahimović was hired by RedBird Capital Partners as a senior advisor to AC Milan, becoming deeply involved in the club's internal matters.
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