Zlatan Ibrahimovic made his mark in football at an early age; when he scored 8 goals for his Balkan youth team. Ibrahimovic also became a black belt in taekwondo when he was just 17 years of age. There was no turning back after he left his high school to pursue football as his long time career. Ranked as the “third best footballer in the world” by “The Guardian”, Ibrahimovic is actually one of the highest paid footballers in the world. His amazing playing style is often compared to the famous Dutch legend Marco Van Basten and Jose Mourinho has also stated his as “the best player in the world, ahead of (Cristiano) Ronaldo”.
Having an astonishingly strong control over the ball, Zlatan is strong and agile but he has been criticised time and again for drifting in and out of games. Despite being eligible for Bosnia and Heerzegovina and Croatia, in the beginning of his career, Zlatan chose to play for Sweden as it was his country of birth. After playing for the Swedish National Team, Zlatan has played with Internazionale, Barcelona, Milan until recently when he started playing under Paris Saint Germian for 2012- 2013 with the contract being extended up to 2016. Though his temperamental attitude has got him in trouble many a times, but still his fans love and support him during all times. He was found violating the team curfew in 2006 and visiting a nightclub and instead of accepting his mistake, he banned himself from the subsequent matches though he returned back later.
Zlatan
Zlatan has been awarded the Guldbollen every year from 2005 till 2013 (except 2006) which is given to the best Swedish footballer each year by the Swedish football association. He also won the Ligue 1 Player of the Year 2012-2013 and the Golden Foot 2012. Controversies love Zlatan and he has been surrounded by not few but many of them which involves hitting and kicking teammates as well as making shrewd remarks such as saying that country’s female footballers should be awarded with bicycles instead of cars. As a result of such controversies he was at times subsequently banned from playing the next few matches. Faroe Islands captain Frodi Benjaminsen has not only accused Ibrahimovic of foul play as well as insulting others but also as being “arrogant”, “childish”, “ignorant” and being a “dirty player”.
This striker is well versed in five languages that include English, Spanish, Italian, Swedish and Bosnian. He has trademarked his first name “Zlatan” and has subsequently named certain products including clothing line, shoes as well as sport products. He has been honoured with a place in his hometown of Malmo outside the Swedbank Stadion’s Walk of Fame of Sports. The Swedish Postal Service in November 2013 has announced to release five different types of Zlatan Ibrahimovic image stamps. The French DJ, Al Pac has tribute a song to the striker called “My name is Zlatan”. Apart from being the UEFA Super Cup winner, Ibrahimovic he has been the UEFA Euro 2004, 2008, and 2012 Man of the Match apart from several other honorary achievements in his lifetime. People spend a lifetime and still cannot achieve 1% of what Ibrahimovic has achieved so early in his life. He is an inspiration for everyone and his story also makes us believe the fact that no matter what do what you love and you will be successful sooner or later.