Zlatan Ibrahimovic Opens Up About The Past Six Months Of His Life, He Somehow Continued Playing

It was confirmed this week that the 40-year-old striker, who recently lifted the Scudetto with AC Milan after coming on in their 3-0 win over Sassuolo, will be sidelined 'for the next seven to eight months' after undergoing knee surgery.

And with the experienced Ibrahimovic being out of contract with Milan next month, fans fear this could be the end of his trophy-laden career in football. But then again, this is Zlatan.

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.

Ibrahimovic will once again have to overcome the odds following another serious injury. So how serious has it been in the past six months?

"For the past six months I played without an ACL in my left knee," he explained.

"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," he added. "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."

If anybody can overcome such an injury, it's Zlatan Ibrahimovic.