Zlatan Ibrahimovic's UEFA Champions League story began back on September 17, 2002, when he hit both goals for Ajax in a 2-1 victory over Lyon. The following 44 have catapulted the Sweden international to 11th on the list of all-time top scorers in the competition.
He has won league titles with every club he’s represented since leaving Malmo in 2001. He’s claimed the Uefa Super Cup and been a world champion with Barcelona, his astonishing goal return ensuring his career has been one of a serial winner.
But one title still eludes him. “I hope he can finish his career with a Champions League title. It's his dream,” said Paris-Saint Germain captain Thiago Silva in January.
Zlatan has certainly played his part. Of those still active in the game, only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo can better his 46 Champions League goals – 18 of which he's hit for the French champions – and he is the only man to have scored in the competition for six different clubs.
A complete forward, he is a constant danger to opposition defenders, from all heights and angles. Standing 6’5”, just two of his 46 UCL goals have been headers, but that’s not to say he lacks areal prowess. A blackbelt in taekwondo, the big Swede simply prefers to use his feet, which can rise as high as any head on the continent.
34 of his UCL goals were converted with his lethal right foot, while 6 came from outside the area – the most spectacular arriving in the 2013-14 season when he hammered home a volley against Anderlecht that flew in at roughly 76mph. It was one of four goals he scored on the night, to date his sole Uefa Champions League hat-trick, and one of his five tournament strikes that arrived from outside the penalty area.
That campaign also saw his best UCL return in a single tournament, with only Cristiano Ronaldo bettering his ten strikes that season, while Ibra’s record of 27 home goals and 19 on the road means he poses a significant threat to Champions League rivals, regardless of the venue.
He now has 30 in all competitions this season but with the 34-year-old’s current contract set to expire at the end of this season, time is running out for this UEFA Champions League Goal King to claim the one title which would mean more than any other.
Ibra has achieved so much in this competition, but he has one last dream to realise. And with a new film entitled ‘Young Zlatan’ having been released last month, Old Zlatan is now targeting a Hollywood ending.
0 Response to "UCL Goal Kings: Zlatan Ibrahimovic"