Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a Swedish professional footballer born on October 3, 1981. He is best known as the striker for the Serie A club, AC Milan, and the Swedish National Team. With over 570 career goals, Ibrahimovic has been described as one of the greatest strikers of all time. His career goes back to 1999, and he’s one of the greatest athletes today, so join us to celebrate his birthday!
Fast Facts
Full Name:
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Nickname:
Ibra
Birth date:
October 3, 1981
Age:
42
Zodiac Sign:
Libra
Height:
6' 5"
Relationship Status:
In a relationship
Net Worth:
$190 million
Background
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a Swedish footballer whose skills and confident personality have set him apart from the pack. Born in Malmo, Sweden, his father was a Muslim immigrant from Bosnia, while his mother was a Catholic Croatian immigrant. Ibrahimovic is of Swedish nationality and a Libra by design. He had a rough upbringing and often had to shoplift in order to eat. He began playing football at age six and was close to quitting by 15. However, the manager of his hometown club, Malmo FF, convinced him to keep on playing. Growing up with soccer as his refuge and passion, Ibrahimovic loved Ronaldo and had his pictures all over his room.
Ibrahimovic signed his first contract in 1996. It was with his hometown club, Malmo FF. By 2001, a transfer deal worth $8.8 million was initiated by Ajax, and he officially joined the team. In September 2002, Ibrahimovic made his Champions League debut and scored twice in the 2-1 victory against Lyon in the group stage. Soon after, he moved to Juventus in a $17 million deal. There, he led the team also known as La Vecchia Signora to the top of the Serie A and through the Champions League, where they reached the quarter-finals before succumbing to Liverpool. At the end of his first season in Italy, Ibrahimovic was awarded Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year. By 2006, the striker signed a $25 million four-year deal to move to Inter Milan. He debuted for the ‘Black and Blues’ in August that year at the Supercoppa Italiana, playing the full 90 minutes. In September 2007, Ibrahimovic played his 100th Serie A match, and in May 2008, he scored both goals in the 2-0 victory over Parma. That season, he scored 17 goals in 26 league matches and was named ‘Serie A Footballer of the Year.’ Ibrahimovic moved on to join Barcelona in 2009 in a five-year contract worth $47 million. There, he played beautifully alongside the likes of Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, and Pique in what has been considered by soccer experts as one of the greatest lineups of all time.
Ibrahimovic’s career features several transfers after his Barcelona era. He played for AC Milan from 2010 to 2012, PSG from 2012 to 2016, Manchester United from 2016 to 2018, LA Galaxy from 2018 to 2019, and AC Milan again, where he has remained since 2020. Ibrahimovic is Sweden’s all-time leading goalscorer, and there he has received endless awards, including 12 Golden Ball prizes. Ibrahimovic is an entertaining footballer and personality. He is known for his outspoken comments and peak confidence, and has often been heard referring to himself in the third person. As a footballer with colossal success, Ibrahimovic shares his life with his longtime partner, Helena Seger, and their two sons.
Career timeline
Ibrahimovic signs his first contract with his hometown club, Malmo.
He scores two goals in his Champions League Debut with Ajax in a 2-1 victory over Lyon.
Ibrahimovic moves to Inter Milan in a four-year deal worth $25 million.
He moves back to his beloved AC Milan.
Why We Love Zlatan Ibrahimovic
He’s a philanthropist
Ibrahimovic has contributed to multiple causes. He once paid $51,000 to send the Swedish national football team for the intellectually disabled to the INAS World Football Championships in Brazil.
He’s an activist
Ibrahimovic supports different movements. He once took off his shirt after scoring a goal to reveal the names of 50 people suffering from hunger around the world, in a bid to raise awareness for famine.
He’s an exceptional player
Ibrahimovic’s career statistics are enviable yet inspirational. He’s a phenomenal player who never fails to let us know his strengths.
5 Surprising Facts
He’s a blackbelt
Ibrahimovic holds an honorary blackbelt in Taekwondo.
He’s a polyglot
Ibrahimovic speaks five languages: Swedish, Bosnian, Spanish, Italian, and English.
His sons’ names are on his boot
Ibrahimovic wears the Nike Mercurial boot, which has the names and birthdays of his sons engraved on its sides.
He has a documentary
Ibrahimovic was featured in a sports documentary titled “Becoming Zlatan.”
He doesn’t drink alcohol
Ibrahimovic stays away from alcohol at all times.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic FAQs
What is Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s religion?
He chose Catholicism as his religion.
Does Zlatan Ibrahimovic have siblings?
He has five siblings in total, four of whom are his half-siblings.
How much does Zlatan Ibrahimovic make in a year?
He makes about $7.5 million annually.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s birthday dates
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2024 | October 3 | Thursday |
2025 | October 3 | Friday |
2026 | October 3 | Saturday |
2027 | October 3 | Sunday |
2028 | October 3 | Tuesday |