When Zlatan Ibrahimovic was ruled out for nine months after a nasty fall in 2016, many doubted whether he would ever return to football.
The veteran striker, who was playing for Manchester United at the time, suffered significant knee ligament damage in a Europa League quarter-final clash against Anderlecht. He was stretchered off in the final minute of normal time.
It was a real threat to his career but despite initial fears, the ever-optimistic Swede was convinced he would come back stronger than ever.
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He would often post inspirational messages on his Instagram page while recovering. Still, many doubted whether he would return to his former self after such a horrific injury.
I mean, Ibrahimovic wasn't getting any younger. He was 36 at the time and after spells at Juventus, Inter Milan and Barcelona, he was well over 500 career appearances.
Zlatan was convinced, however, that he would "come back stronger" than ever.
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"I will go through this like everything else and come back even stronger." he said at the time.
"So far I played with one leg so it shouldn't be any problem. One thing is for sure, I decide when it's time to stop and nothing else. Giving up is not an option. See you soon."
It was unclear as to whether he would remain a Manchester United player at the time but eventually, the striker would decide to join LA Galaxy in a huge move for Major League Soccer.
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It was a decision that he and his new club would not regret. In his first 17 games, Ibrahimovic scored 15 goals, including a hat-trick against Orlando City.
The former Barcelona striker took to social media after his three goals to show the extent of the knee injury that threatened his career.
Many said it was over, he said "NO."
It was further evidence that doctors at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine were right about his physical condition.
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"His knee is so strong that the doctors said they had never seen anything like it," Zlatan's agent, Mino Raiola, told Swedish newspaper Expressen.
"He has a knee that it is almost impossible for a football player with a 20-year career to have. It was quite clean, there was no harm in it.
"Zlatan is so strong that the doctor wants him back after his career to research on him. They work on the world's best research institutions for the knees and ligaments.
"They research a lot on the subject and that is why they are better than everyone else, and doctors want back Zlatan to do research on him.
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"So after Zlatan's career, we will go back and open him up again to do research on his ligaments."
Four years on from his serious knee ligament damage and Ibrahimovic is the top goalscorer in Serie A with seven goals in AC Milan's opening four games.
He sealed a dramatic late win against Udinese by scoring a spectacular overheard kick last week, and continues to prove his doubters wrong on a week-by-week basis.
How long can he go on for? Well, it doesn't look like he's slowing down anytime soon.
Topics: Football News, Football, World Football, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, injury, Sweden
