Sweden legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic hangs up his boots

Milan paid tribute to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is leaving football. The Swedish striker is leaving after a season in which he only wore the shirt four times due to a knee injury, but his role at the Milan club in this second stage was always more than just football.

This time Ibra could not keep his poise and collapsed. A sea of tears flooded his eyes as he took to the microphone to say goodbye to his fans, his last heartfelt words to his supporters and team-mates, who adorned themselves for the occasion with a shirt bearing his name and made a procession at the San Siro to bid him an honourable farewell.

"The time has come to say goodbye to football, not to you. You have welcomed me with open arms, I will be a Milanista for the rest of my life," he said from the centre of the San Siro pitch as he bid farewell to fans and team-mates.

"The first time I was at Milan you gave me joy, the second time you gave me love. I thank my family for their patience, then the second family, the players and the coach and his staff. Thanks also to the management for the opportunity they have given me. I also thank the fans from the bottom of my heart who have welcomed me with open arms. I will be a Milan fan for life," he added.

The Swede retires from football after 988 appearances and 573 goals for all his clubs and his national team.

Ibra, who turns 42 in October, leaves Milan as a true legend and after a season away from the spotlight, but in which his role as a transcendental figure in the dressing room was impeccable. Always respected by both players and coaching staff, he led last season's historic 2021-22 Scudetto champions to the top after 13 years without winning the title.

"His role has always been that of a great motivator and a great player, and I hope he can continue to be that," Italian coach Stefano Pioli said on 10 February in his first call-up of the season.

Prior to that game against Torino, in which he did not even play, Ibra was recovering from knee surgery at the end of last season.

The Swedish striker played on 22 May 2022 against Sassuolo in the final game of the 2021-22 season that crowned Milan Scudetto champions 13 years after their last win.

Three days after that game, Ibra underwent surgery on his left knee, a procedure that sidelined him for eight months.

He did not make his debut this season until 26 February against Atalanta. Four league games in a row and one with Sweden were enough for him to realise that he was not yet 100 per cent recovered, so he stopped playing again until the end of the season.

A campaign in which, despite the difficulty of the challenge, he achieved a new record. He did so having played just four games and 126 minutes in the red and black jersey, which is an understatement to say the least. On 18 March, at the age of 41 years and 166 days, Ibra scored from the penalty spot at the second attempt against Udinese to become the oldest player to score in Serie A, surpassing Alessandro Costacurta.

Although the record surely leaves a good taste in his mouth, it has been a very difficult season for him, having to watch from the bench as his team reached the Champions League semi-finals only to lose to arch-rivals Inter in what would have been a precious reunion with the fans who once cheered him on.

In his farewell at the San Siro, he recalled his two spells there. The first began 13 years ago, back in 2010, when he played for two years before leaving for PSG. The second, with which he hangs up his boots, from 2020 and until 2023, in which a completely full stadium, with some 70,000 fans, bid farewell to one of its legends.

The Swede leaves behind a total of 93 goals and 35 assists in his 116 appearances over two spells and 988 games in which he scored 573 goals for all the clubs he played for and his national team, but a much greater legacy that also includes two 'Scudetti' and an Italian Super Cup.