Zlatan Ibrahimović announced his immediate retirement from football, as the 41-year-old ends his playing career with Italian club AC Milan.

Ibrahimović’s contract with AC Milan will not be renewed, as it is due to expire at the end of the month. The former Swedish striker has an illustrious 24-year career filled with accolades and awards, as it started with Malmö Sweden in 1999. The star footballer won 32 trophies, including league titles in the Netherlands, Spain, France, and Italy with both Inter and AC for Milan.

Ibrahimović also scored 511 career goals, hailed as one of the best strikers and one of the most decorated footballers to ever play. Internationally, he was “capped” or “appeared with their senior national team” 122 times by Sweden as their all-time leading scorer with 62 goals.

Ibrahimović spoke for his retirement speech at San Siro Stadium in Italy, as he said his farewell to Milan on Sunday: ‘So many memories and emotions inside this stadium.’

In 2017, Ibrahimović helped the Manchester United club win the EFL Cup and the Europa League but past that, his time playing in England was cut short due to a severe cruciate ligament injury.

Ibrahimović defied the odds and was eventually healthy enough to play again, joining the LA Galaxy for the next 21 months before coming back home to Italy for a second time with AC Milan. He then helped his club claim their first Serie A title in 11 years last season. Ibrahimović tributes to Milan in his retirement speech:

‘The first time I arrived you gave me happiness, the second time, you gave me love. I want to thank my family and those close to me for their patience. I want to thank my second family. The players, the coach, and his staff for the responsibility they gave me. I want to thank the directors for the opportunity they gave me.

“Last but not least, from my heart, I want to thank you, fans. You welcomed me with open arms and I will be a Milanista my entire life.”

‘It’s time to say goodbye to football, but not to you. It’s too difficult, there are too many emotions. I’ll see you around if you are lucky. Forza Milan and goodbye.’

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is continuing his ongoing back-and-forth remarks with Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.

On a Tuesday news conference ahead of the Italian music festival Sanremo, which Ibrahimovic is co-hosting, the AC Milan forward said, “Athletes unite the world, politics divide it.” This comment was in response to James’ remarks to him. Ibrahimovic then reaffirmed his earlier comments by saying, “Our role is to unite the world by doing what we do best, athletes should be athletes, and politicians should do politics.”

These latest comments stem from what the Milan forward said during a UEFA for Discovery+ in Sweden last week. “[LeBron] is phenomenal at what he’s doing, but I don’t like when people have some kind of status, and they go and do politics at the same time,” he said. “Do what you’re good at. Do the category you do. I play football because I’m the best at playing football.” The forward finished the interview saying, “Stay out of it. Just do what you do best because it doesn’t look good.”

James responded by saying that he comes “from a very educated mind, so I’m kind of the wrong guy to actually go at because I do my homework.”

These were the initial comments that prompted a back-and-forth between the star players in their respective sports.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced on Wednesday he is departing LA Galaxy at the end of the year when his contract ends.

The 38-year-old Swedish forward has seen great success with the Major League Soccer team since he transferred from Manchester United in March 2018. Ibrahimovic has scored 52 goals and 17 assists in 56 games with the Galaxy. The Swede has played for some of Europe’s biggest teams, including Man U, Juventus, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan.

Ibrahimovic thanked his most recent club and its fans in an inflated tweet, writing: “I came, I saw, I conquered” and including a photo of him overlooking the city of Los Angeles. He also claimed the Galaxy made him “feel alive again.”

“To the Galaxy fans — you wanted Zlatan, I gave you Zlatan. You are welcome. The story continues … Now go back to watch baseball,” the Swedish star added.

SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

The Galaxy posted this tribute video for the Swedish star:

Ibrahimovic boats multiple accolades throughout his career, including two MLS Best XI selections. Last year, he won the MLS Newcomer of the Year award. However, he just missed out on this year’s MLS MVP award despite scoring 30 goals in the league. Mexican striker Carlos Vela, who plays for LAFC, instead took the prize after scoring a league-record 34 goals.

Although it remains unknown exactly where Ibrahimovic could head next, some pundits have speculated about potential destinations for the Swede. According to Reuters, Ibrahimovic could return to Italy to play for his former club AC Milan or come back to Manchester United. The Swedish star has also been tied to Australian team Perth Glory and to Argentine giants Boca Juniors, per ESPN.

According to the MLS website, Ibrahimovic earned $7.2 million this season.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been hit with a hefty punishment for his actions on Saturday.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Tyrone Mings to Serve Bans for Violent Conduct

The 35-year-old Manchester United forward will serve a three-game suspension after the Swede was charged with violent conduct in Saturday’s 1-1 Premier League home tie against Bournemouth.

Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings will serve a ban of his own, a five-game suspension for his stamp on Ibrahimovic’s head at Old Trafford. The United star responded by elbowing Mings in the face when both jumped to head a cross moments later.

Both fouls escaped punishment at the time as referee Kevin Friend failed to notice them, but on Monday, a panel of three former elite officials brought the charges.

The English Football Association (FA) released the following statement Tuesday afternoon:

“Zlatan Ibrahimovic will serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect after he admitted an FA charge of violent conduct and accepted the standard penalty.

“It follows an incident in or around the 44th minute of the game between Manchester United and AFC Bournemouth on Saturday (4 March 2017).

“The misconduct was not seen by the match officials at the time but caught on video.”

Ibrahimovic, United’s leading scorer, will therefore miss Monday’s Emirates FA Cup quarter-final at Chelsea, followed by Premier League games against Middlesbrough and West Brom. He is expected to return on April 4, when United host Everton.

The Swedish star has only missed one league game all season until now, a tie with Arsenal in November.

Englishman Mings, who will be 24 on Monday, contested his suspension— unlike Ibrahimovic— but an Independent Regulatory Commission also found Mings guilty of violent conduct. Thus, he will miss Premier League games against West Ham, Swansea, Southampton, Liverpool and Chelsea.

Ibrahimovic denied any intent to harm Mings, claiming the Bournemouth defender “jumped into my elbow,” although he seemed prepared to accept any form of punishment when speaking after Saturday’s game.

“I respect every decision,” he said. “I am not here to attack anybody. My purpose was not to do that. The game is hard.”

SWANSEA, WALES – NOVEMBER 06: : Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United celebrates scoring his sides second goal with Phil Jones (l) during the Premier League match between Swansea City and Manchester United at Liberty Stadium on November 6, 2016 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been named the Premier League’s Player of the Month for December.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Win’s Premier League’s Player Of The Month Of December

The 35-year-old Swedish star scored five goals in six Premier League appearances last month, and also contributed three assists en route to helping the Red Devils reach a 15-game undefeated run, as well as nine straight wins in all competitions.

Ibrahimovic scored in a 1-1 tie at Everton and in a 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace before netting both goals in a 2-0 win over West Brom. His final goal of December came in a 3-1 home victory over Sunderland.

The forward claims it took him merely three months to “conquer” English soccer, and he warned Chelsea his team will be prepared to take advantage of any mistakes the rival Premier League club makes during the title game.

The Red Devils, led by manager Jose Mourinho, next host Liverpool on Sunday.

Ibrahimovic missed Tuesday’ 2-0 EFL Cup win over Hull City due to illness, but is expected to recover in time for the match against Liverpool, where he’ll hope to add to his tally of 12 goals in as many games.

Despite his age, the Swede has played in every minute of United’s league contests, except for the 1-1 tie against Arsenal which he missed through suspension, and remains just one goal behind Chelsea striker Diego Costa, the league’s leading scorer this season.

However, Ibrahimovic has stated he is more interested in beating the whole Chelsea team than he is in passing Costa’s scoring record. United currently trail Chelsea by 10 points.

“No, I’m not chasing anybody,” Ibrahimovic said when asked about Costa. “I’m chasing the head trophy – the Premier League. That is my aim. The individual things come as part of the main objective because that is like a bonus for every individual player.”

The striker continued: “We had our dips, our ups and downs when we were winning, losing, winning and losing. Lately, we have been more stabilized as a team. The coach has found his base, which is not easy when you’re a new coach coming to a new team and want to put in your philosophy.”

United’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan won the Goal of the Month award for his spectacular “scorpion kick” goal against Sunderland on Boxing Day:

Furthermore, the Red Devils have rejected a bid from Lyon for Memphis Depay, with the French club also interested in another United winger, Adnan Januzaj. Januzaj is currently on loan at Sunderland.

SWANSEA, WALES – NOVEMBER 06: : Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United celebrates scoring his sides second goal with Phil Jones (l) during the Premier League match between Swansea City and Manchester United at Liberty Stadium on November 6, 2016 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored two goals and Paul Pogba netted one to lead Manchester United to a 3-1 road victory over Swansea City on Sunday, as the Red Devils ended a run of four Premier League games without a win.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba Lead Manchester United To 3-1 Win Over Swansea

United dominated from the start, and got ahead 3-0 at halftime. Ibrahimovic, who was signed to the club this summer along with Pogba, had his first two-goal game in the league since September, and made history by scoring the 25,000th goal in the Premier League’s 24-year existence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9lzmORYXmA

Mike van der Hoorn headed in for Swansea midway through the second half, although there was no true danger for the visitors, whose manager Jose Mourinho watched from the stands due to a touchline ban.

United jumped to sixth in the Premier League table with 18 points, while Swansea– who have now gone 10 league matches without a win– remains second-to-last, only ahead of Sunderland. Liverpool currently leads the league with 26 points, and Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham follow.

Swansea’s terrible performance drew boos from the home crowd and left manager Bob Bradley with only one point from his first four games in charge.

Despite not being on the sidelines, Mourinho made his presence felt with six changes from Thursday’s Europa League loss at Fenerbahce.

Among those recalled was Ibrahimovic, whose attitude the Portuguese manager had praised as “brilliant” despite a weak spell that saw the Swedish forward fail to score in six Premier League matches.

“I wasn’t worried,” Mournho said. “As long as you create the chances, which I have been doing, the goals will come. But the most important thing is the win. The goals will come.”

Pogba, whose stellar strike would have beat almost any goalkeeper, Ibrahimovic’s low drive only found the back of the net because it was met with weak resistance from Swansea goalie Lukasz Fabianski.

Ibrahimovic’s second goal reflected the match, as he pushed aside Angel Rangel’s untidy challenge before sending the ball past Fabianski.

There were faint hopes of a comeback for Swansea when Van der Hoorn headed in from Gylfi Sigurdsson’s free-kick – and things might have been different had Ibrahimovic’s apparent kick at Leroy Fer been punished by more than a yellow card.

United next host Arsenal on Saturday, Nov. 19, while Swansea travel to Everton later that same day.

SWANSEA, WALES – NOVEMBER 06: : Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United celebrates scoring his sides second goal with Phil Jones (l) during the Premier League match between Swansea City and Manchester United at Liberty Stadium on November 6, 2016 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Belgium defeated Sweden 1-0 in their final group-stage game of the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament in Nice on Wednesday thanks to a late goal from Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan, thus ending superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s international career with a defeat.

Belgium Eliminate Sweden From Euro 2016 With 1-0 Win In Ibrahimovic’s Last International Game

Nainggolan, 28, who is reportedly targeted by Chelsea, controlled a cross from Eden Hazard outside the box and fired it into the net in the 82nd minute.

Belgium will now move on to the Round of 16, where they will face Hungary in Toulouse on June 26. Belgium finished second in Group E, while Sweden finished last. Italy finished first despite a 1-0 loss to Ireland on Wednesday.

The first half-hour of Thursday’s match proved to be thrilling. Sweden nearly had a great start three minutes in when a goalmouth half-volley by Marcus Berg, in for John Giudetti as strike partner to Ibrahimovic, was knocked out by Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. 

Then midway through the half, Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne took a backheel pass from Hazard and fired a shot straight at Swedish goalie Andreas Isaksson. 

Sweden’s Albin Ekdal received a yellow card shortly afterwards for a last-ditch trip on De Bruyne, who twice in five minutes shot lethal crosses across the area.

Sweden’s defense was able to contain Everton forward Romelu Lukaku, whose two goals in Belgium’s previous game against the Republic of Ireland gave the team their first win of the tournament following an opening-game loss to Italy.

Ibrahimovic, meanwhile, struggled to put up any meaningful shots on goal.

The 34-year-old star striker announced his retirement from international soccer after Euro 2016 on Tuesday.

Early in the second half, Belgium nearly hd a chance when defender Thomas Meunier headed a perfect De Bruyne cross just wide of Isaksson’s near post.

Belgium had a strong penalty claim turned when a cross from Yannick Ferreira Carrasco was blocked.

Then with fifteen minutes left, Belgium almost made a breakthrough when a strong Lukaku break was foiled by Isakksson who spread his body well to the shot.

One minute later, an identical run by the Everton star, this time with a finish, was ruled offside.

A few minutes after that, Ibrahimovic was denied a goal attempt on a free kick by Courtois. A header was then cleared off the line by Meunier.

The Swedish superstar fought to the end, nearly scoring a late equaliser with a half volley, but the final minutes were instead marked by Belgian fans loudly chanting “Bye Bye Ibrahimovic!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJKtP02WESk

NICE, FRANCE – JUNE 22: Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Sweden looks to control the ball during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group E match between Sweden and Belgium at Allianz Riviera Stadium on June 22, 2016 in Nice, France. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Superstar Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced on Tuesday that he plans to retire from international soccer after the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament.

Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic To Retire From International Soccer After Euro 2016

“The last game with Sweden in the Euros will be my last game with Sweden, so I hope it won’t be tomorrow,” the 34-year-old striker and Swedish captain told a press conference ahead of Wednesday’s final Group E game against Belgium in Nice.

The Euro 2016 Cup is set to end on July 10.

There had been some speculation that Ibrahimovic could participate in this year’s Rio Olympics after he was named in an initial 35-man squad for the competition earlier this month, but the striker also ruled that out.

“This will be a big loss,” said Sweden head coach Erik Hamrén. “He is unique.”

Ibrahimovic, who holds his country’s record for most goals scored with 62, is seeking to become the first player to score in four European Championship finals. Sweden will have to defeat Belgium on Wednesday in order to stand a chance of advancing to the last 16.

“I will not participate in the Olympics because my last game will be the last game Sweden has at this Euros,” he said. “So let’s hope it goes as long as possible.”

A record 10-time winner of the national Guldbollen award for player of the year, Ibrahimovic made clear that he would end his career with his head held high regardless of Wednesday’s result.

“To finish in a disappointment, never. Because I’m very proud to be the captain of Sweden and of what I’ve achieved,” the superstar said. “I want to take this moment to thank all the supporters because they made it possible for me to achieve what I have achieved. Without them it would not have been possible,”

Ibrahimovic then continued: “Wherever I go, wherever I come, I’ll always bring the Swedish flag with me and stand with it. For me, disappointment doesn’t exist, only proudness and gratefulness. I’m very thankful. So thank you.”

Ibrahimovic is out of contract with Paris Saint-Germain after four seasons in Ligue 1, but has yet to commit to a new team. Manchester United are rumored to be the favorites to sign him.

On two occasions he has led his side to the Euro finals, but in 2012 – and in the current competition – Sweden have fallen well short of expectations. During that period they have also missed out on two World Cups.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmUXLZnl0f4

PHOTO: TOULOUSE, FRANCE – JUNE 17: Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Sweden in action during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group E match between Italy and Sweden at Stadium Municipal on June 17, 2016 in Toulouse, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)