Featured Image Credit: Twitter/@Ibra_official
Topics: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, AC Milan, Serie A
Jack Kenmare
Topics: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, AC Milan, Serie A
A shirtless Zlatan Ibrahimovic sent a Christmas message to "you and your wifes" as he stood in the boxing ring – and it might be the most Zlatan moment of the year.
The 41-year-old forward, who signed a one-year extension with AC Milan back in July, is currently recovering from a serious knee surgery and is not expected to return to action until 2023.
That being said, it's been months after he went under the knife to fix issues caused by a previous anterior cruciate ligament injury and he still looks in the shape of his life.
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Ibrahimovic decided to show off that physique with a message to you and your loved ones this festive period. Check it out below.
It's been a rough few months for the Swede, who revealed his injury woes after AC Milan lifted the Serie A title last season. In fact, Ibrahimovic remarkably claimed that he played for six months without an ACL in his left knee.
"For the past six months I played without an ACL in my left knee," he posted to social media shortly after Milan's title triumph.
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"Swollen knee for six months. I was only able to train with the team 10 times in the last six months. Took more than 20 injections in six months.
"Emptied the knee once a week for six months. Painkillers every day for six months. Barely slept for six months because of the pain.
"I've never suffered so much on and off the pitch. I made something impossible to something possible. In my mind I had only one objective, to make my teammates and coach champions of Italy because I made them a promise.
"Today I have a new ACL and another trophy."
Back in 2016, Ibrahimovic was ruled out for nine months with significant knee ligament damage after a nasty fall against Anderlecht while playing for Manchester United.
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Many doubted whether he would return to football after such a horrific injury but the ever-optimistic Swede was convinced he would come back stronger than ever. And he did just that.
In fact, such was his incredible recovery, doctors at the University of Pittsburgh School are reportedly keen on performing research on his physique after he retires.
"Zlatan is so strong that the doctor wants him back after his career to research on him," Ibrahimovic's former agent Mino Raiola said in 2019.
"They work on the world's best research institutions for the knees and ligaments."
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Let's be honest. If anybody can overcome such an injury, it's Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
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