Zlatan Ibrahimović becomes Serie A’s oldest goalscorer at 41 years and 166 days

CNN
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Zlatan Ibrahimović’s Instagram profile says he’s a writer and on Saturday the Swede wrote a new page in his remarkable career by becoming the oldest goalscorer in Italy’s Serie A.

As the storylines went, there was drama and pathos as the AC Milan striker reached the record – aged 41 years and 166 days – with his goal coming from a retaken penalty in of his side’s 3-1 loss to Udinese.

Given a second chance after encroaching on the penalty spot, Ibrahimović hammered the ball straight into the middle overtaking Alessandro Costacurta’s record set when the Italian was 41 years and 25 days old.

Ibrahimović’s goal tied the score at 1-1 just before half-time, but Udinese pulled out in the second half to secure the win.

“It’s an honor but I’m sorry that goal didn’t bring the three points,” Ibrahimović said, according to Sky Sport Italia.

It was the striker’s first goal since returning to the pitch after undergoing surgery for an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury over the summer.

After Milan’s Scudetto success last season, Ibrahimović revealed on social media that he played the last six months of the 2021/2022 season without an ACL in his left knee – the strong strip of fabric that connects the bone of thigh to shin and knee. joint.

“Took over 20 injections in six months,” Ibrahimović said in a post on her verified Instagram account.

“I drained the knee once a week for six months. Painkillers every day for six months. Barely slept for six months due to pain. I have never suffered so much on and off the pitch.

But, despite his age and his career-threatening injury, Ibrahimović seems determined to keep playing football.

“As long as I can produce results, I will keep playing,” he told CNN last November. “The day I slow down I want people around me to be honest and say it’s slowing down and then I’ll be realistic.”

Milan remain fourth in the table following their loss and will next take to the pitch on April 2 to face league leaders Napoli.

Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia, Cristiano Ronaldo – another legendary striker – rolled back the years to score a stunning long-range free kick as Al Nassr beat Abha 2-1 in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday.

He then allowed team-mate Anderson Talisca to convert the winning penalty eight minutes later as a sign of respect. Brazilian Talisca has just returned from injury.