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Zlatan Ibrahimovic is an epitome of charisma, flair, attitude, and arrogance. The former Swedish International has conquered everywhere he has played. Zlatan has won numerous silverware and is one of the top goal scorers in the history of football. Recently he achieved the feat of scoring 500 goals in football which is a milestone in itself.
Zlatan started his career for his boyhood club Malmo in 1996. It's believed that Arsene Wenger tried to persuade him to join Arsenal but failed to convince the Swede. He then moved to Ajax, spending four seasons for the Dutch side before playing for a string of top European clubs staring with Juventus.
In his first stint in Italy, Ibrahimovic spent five seasons -- two for Juventus and three for Inter Milan before he left for Barcelona in Spain. The Catalan giants already had a rich list of world-class players and Zlatan's inclusion made them an unbeatable side in Europe. However, a declining relationship between the-then Barcelona manager, Pep Guardiola and himself saw the Swede leave Spain and move back to AC Milan.
Zlatan's most appearances came for Paris Saint-Germain whom he left in 2016 for Manchester United. In the Premier League, Zlatan had an impressive debut season but a gruesome injury at the fag end of the season saw his United career cut short. He left the Red Devils in the middle of last season to play for LA Galaxy where he is currently employed.
Despite his achievements, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is remembered as a master of amazing and acrobatic goals. Here is a list of the top five goals scored by the Swedish maestro.
#5 ANDERLECHT VS PSG
Scoring on a European night is always unique for any player. It was a Group C fixture where Anderlecht hosted Paris Saint-Germain at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium in 2013.
The away side was at their dominating best on that day. The onslaught started after the first quarter of the game, led by Ibrahimovic. The game was already wrapped up with Zlatan scoring a brace. However, the Swede wasn't done with just two goals but wanted a hat-trick to wrap up a glorious night.
A ball from the left flank was poorly dealt with by the Anderlecht defender, and it fell kindly for Zlatan to hit a thunderous volley from 25 yards out. Even his teammates were flabbergasted with this audacious volley that went flying past the goalkeeper. Later in the game, he scored his fourth and Paris Saint-Germain's fifth of the night.
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#4 ITALY VS SWEDEN
The circumstance of the goal was more important than the nature of how it got scored. It was one of the crucial nights for the Swedish National team as they needed a point in the group stages of the European Championship.
At one point when it looked like all was over for Sweden, Zlatan came up with an acrobatic back-heel to salvage a point for the team. Sweden eventually finished as the group leaders later in the competition and moved to the next round at the expense of Italy. Even Italy goalkeeper, Gigi Buffon praised the Swede for the goal.
The Italian goalkeeper, Buffon was sure to catch the bouncing ball, just inside his six-yard box, until the former Juventus man flung his tall frame through the air and, somehow, got to it ahead of Buffon and Christian Vieri producing a world-class flick, to snatch a 1-1 draw.
#3 SWEDEN VS FRANCE
Playing at the International stage is always a matter of enormous pride, and nobody knows it better than Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He has scored crucial goals and bailed his nation out on numerous occasions.
It was a game which had the interest of three clubs -- England, France, and Sweden. Before the match, France was on the top of the group knowing that a defeat could send them home from the competition. Just when the game had reached a frantic stage, Zlatan Ibrahimovic came up with a scissor-kick from just inside the penalty area which rifled into the corner of Hugo Lloris’s net.
Sweden ran out 2-0 winners from the game which was Blanc's first loss in 24 games and Sweden's first win against France in 43 years. The win was a mere consolation for Zlatan with France and England eventually qualifying to the next round of European Championship.
#2 TORONTO VS LA GALAXY
LA Galaxy had a horrendous start to the first half, conceding three goals against Toronto FC. It looked like the away side would go into the half-time break trailing by three goals leaving all to do work in the second half.
However, Zlatan Ibrahimovic had different ideas. In the 44th minute of the game, the former Swedish international came up with an atrocious taekwondo kick to reduce the deficit for LA Galaxy. It was 3-3 after the break, but eventually, Toronto FC ran out 5-3 winners on the night.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is blessed with flexibility and athleticism. The Swede has already lit up the MLS, and this goal got praised by pundits and players all over the world. Even the Toronto fans stood up and applauded the brilliance of one of the best footballers in history. It was also the 500th career goal of the former Sweden captain.
#1 SWEDEN VS ENGLAND
Zlatan had a habit of scoring incredible goals for Sweden and this time it was England who witnessed the brilliance of the former Swedish international.
England was leading 2-1 in the match with less than fifteen minutes to go and was playing well, considering the team that Roy Hodson fielded on that day. It was pretty comfortable for the Three Lions until Ibrahimovic decided to add some excitement in the game.
It was a long hopeful ball played down the center of the park which the England goalkeeper, Joe Hart came out and headed away from the danger. However, the clearance was an invitation for the Swede maestro to produce one of his exceptional overhead kicks. Any player would have controlled the ball down and played it to a fellow teammate, but for Zlatan, impossible is just a word. He can score from anywhere and convert even a no-chance into a goal.
The accuracy of the shot was such that it even lobbed the defender on the line. The then-Sweden coach, Eric Hamren compared it to watching a video game. Even Steven Gerrard described it as the one of the best goals he has seen. Ibrahimovic also won the FIFA Puskas Award for this goal.
