After initially beginning his career at Malmo, he joined Ajax two seasons later before grabbing the attention of Juventus. His career then took to the giants of European football - Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United.
Ibrahimovic is also seen as one of Sweden’s greatest exports alongside Bjorn Borg and ABBA and in 2019, a statue was unveiled in honour of his achievements in his hometown. The statue stands at nearly 9ft and weighs more than half a tonne.
The 2022/23 season would eventually turn out to be Ibrahimovic's final one.
Eligible for Sweden, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Croatia, Ibrahimovic chose to represent the Sweden national team.
Ibrahimovic has been part of various FIFA World Cup tournaments and UEFA European Championships. He was named in the Euro 2012 Team of the Year for his goals against France and Ukraine, despite the country being knocked out in the group stages of the event.
The only Swedish player to score in three consecutive UEFA European Championships, with goals in 2004, 2008 and 2012, Ibrahimovic announced his retirement from international soccer in June 2016 following a barren spell at Euro 2016 that saw Sweden eliminated at the group stage.
He returned to the fold in 2021, at the age of 39, assisting Ludwig Augustinsson in a 3-0 win over Kosovo.
However, plans to appear in a fifth successive European Championship were shelved when he sustained an injury just days prior to the 2020 squad being announced.
Nevertheless, Ibrahimovic remains Sweden's all-time leading goalscorer with 62 goals in 118 games and remains just the second male player to earn 100 or more caps.
On his time at Barcelona under Guardiola: "When you buy me, you are buying a Ferrari. If you drive a Ferrari you put premium petrol in the tank, you hit the motorway and you step on the gas. [Pep] Guardiola filled up with diesel and took a spin in the countryside. He should have bought a Fiat."
David Beckham's music taste: "We were looking through his playlist in the dressing room - there was lots of Justin Bieber, Jonas Brothers and Selena Gomez. It is nice to know that even David Beckham doesn't have good taste in everything."
Rumours of Rooney leaving Man United: "If [Wayne Rooney] still wants to move next summer, or in January, I would urge him to come and play with me in Paris... If he did join, he would have to get used to the fact that Zlatan scores even better goals than him."
His relationship with Mourinho: "[Jose] Mourinho is Guardiola's opposite. If Mourinho brightens up the room, Guardiola pulls down the curtains and I guessed that Guardiola now tried to measure himself with him."
Responding to Eric Cantona calling him the Prince of Manchester: "I won't be the King of Manchester, I will be the God of Manchester."
Born to a Catholic mother from Croatia and Bosnian Muslim father, his parents met for the first time in Sweden after both emigrating from Yugoslavia. Ibrahimovic has confessed himself as a Catholic.
Zlatan is married to Helena Seger and the pair have been together for 18 years. Together, they have two children named Maximilian and Vincent. Italian presenter Diletta Leotta was forced to deny allegations of an affair with Ibrahimovic after they were spotted together in a restaurant. The pair had shot a commercial together during lockdown, which led to the false reports.
Ibrahimovic was given a statue in honour of his achievements outside Malmo's soccer stadium. It has since been vandalised however, after it emerged Ibrahimovic had investments with rivals Hammarby. Graffiti and white paint have been added, while a toe and ankles have been sawn off since the revelation.
In 2015, Ibrahimovic scored and raised awareness by taking his top off with 50 removable tattoo names of 50 children suffering from hunger around the world.
Ibrahimovic has more than 46 million followers on Instagram - the most for a person from Sweden and for AC Milan with Lucas Paqueta at second, who has more than 3.7 million.
Outside of soccer, Ibrahimovic has featured in several documentaries, including Becoming Zlatan - a film which follows his time from Malmo to Juventus.
Former Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has defended the Glazer family and questioned the criticism the club’s owners have received over investment.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the 41-year-old AC Milan striker, has declared his retirement from football.
Kylian Mbappe rewrote the history books on Saturdays when he scored late on against Nantes to become Paris Saint-Germain’s record goalscorer.
The two Milan rivals have to travel to Saudi Arabia to contest Italy's Super Cup final on Wednesday, and football tipster Sergiu Baltuta has being weighing up their prospects.
Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic insists he is a team player who gives everything to help the defending Serie A champions.
All the top players who won’t be going to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and those who have been cut from the final squads.
Pep Guardiola has sarcastically claimed he is jealous of Erling Haaland in a blunt retort to another dig from old adversary Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
