Ibrahimovic: Rare Moment As Veteran Striker Fights Back Tears After Announcing Retirement

• Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced his unexpected retirement from professional football last night
• The 41-year-old’s contract with AC Milan has run out and both parties decided not to continue
• The Swedish star could not fight back his emotions on his last day as a professional footballer

Zlatan Ibrahimovic could not fight his emotions after he unexpectedly announced his retirement from professional football after AC Milan’s final game of the season.

His contract is up this summer, and both parties had mutually decided to call it quits, but no one knew what the Swede's next steps were until he made them.

Ibrahimovic was not listed in the matchday squad as he had been battling a knee injury that kept him out of action since April, but was in the stands at the San Siro.

According to Sempre Milan, even the club was unaware of his decision. He only informed AC Milan they needed to 'do something' after the game, which ended in a 3-1 victory over Hellas Verona.

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Ibrahimovic in tears after retirement

It is rare to see the big man cry, but yesterday he could not hold the tears back on his last day as a professional, in a career that has spanned almost 25 years and nine clubs.

Ibrahimovic announced his decision on the pitch and faced a press conference shortly after. He answered powerfully when asked when he knew it was time to retire.

“When I woke up it was raining, I said even God is crying. In the last 10 days. I’ve accepted it, even not being able to finish on the pitch. However, what I went through today was too beautiful, a memory for a lifetime,” he said.

According to Mirror UK, the last time it got teary for Zlatan was on his return to the Swedish national team for the World Cup qualifiers. At 39, his son did not want him to go away, which made him shed a few tears in Malmö.

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Ibrahimovic mocks Leao’s rap song

The former Barcelona striker had many iconic moments, never being scared to show off his ego and saying things as he viewed them regardless of who might not like them.

Such was the case with AC Milan teammate, Rafael Leao. Sports Brief reported on Zlatan telling Leao 'focus on football' after listening to his song released as 'Way45'.