Veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimović, 41, was named in Sweden’s squad for this month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers, giving him a chance to break Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff’s age record. Ibrahimović last played for his country a year ago, and if he appears in the matches against Belgium on March 24 or Azerbaijan on March 27, he will surpass Zoff’s Euro‑qualifier milestone of 40 years and 90 days set in 1983.
He has featured in only three games for AC Milan this season after recovering from a knee problem. “Zlatan has made three slightly longer substitutions now in Milan and feels fit and in decent shape even though he has been away for a while,” Sweden coach Janne Andersson said in a statement. “From that perspective, I think he can contribute, especially on the pitch but also off the pitch.”
If Sweden reaches the finals in Germany next year, Ibrahimović could also eclipse Hungary’s Gábor Király, who played in the 2016 tournament at age 40. After Sweden missed out on the 2022 World Cup, Ibrahimović said last year that he would “continue as long as I can,” adding that he feels “panicking” at the thought of retirement.
Sweden’s group F also includes Belgium, Azerbaijan, Estonia and Austria, with the top two teams qualifying for the Euro 2024 finals.
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