Zlatan Ibrahimovic ruled out for the rest of 2022 and might retire

• Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been ruled out of the football pitch for the rest of 2022
• The AC Milan forward has been ruled out due to a knee surgery that he has had after the end of Serie A season
• Zlatan helped his side to Scudetto triumph which was Milan’s first league title in 11 years

Zlatan Ibrahimovic could have played the last professional match of his career after AC Milan confirmed the striker will miss the rest of 2022 after having surgery on a knee problem, stoking speculation the forward might retire.

Ibrahimovic celebrated Milan’s Serie A title success in typical style on Sunday, smoking a cigar as he made his way out onto the pitch for the trophy presentation to the fans.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrated winning the scudetto in style, stepping out of the tunnel smoking a cigar during the trophy presentation to the fans. | PHOTO: Getty Images |

Yet the 40-year-old – who came off the bench in the 3-0 win over Sassuolo that sealed the title – might have made his final appearance for Milan, and possibly of his career after he underwent surgery on his left knee.

Milan revealed on Wednesday afternoon that Ibrahimovic will face between seven and eight months out of action, but that the surgery was a success.

“AC Milan announces that Zlatan Ibrahimovic underwent surgery on his left knee today by Dr. Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet, in the presence of club medical director Stefano Mazzoni, at the Hospital Jean Mermoz in Lyon,” read a Milan statement.

“The arthroscopy had been planned for some time to definitively resolve the instability of the joint through reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament, with lateral reinforcement and meniscal repair. The operation was perfectly successful and the prognosis is estimated at seven-to-eight months.”

Ibrahimovic scored eight goals from 23 Serie A appearances this season, though his last start in the competition came in January. His contract ends in June.

Reports in Italy earlier this week claimed Milan would only be offering the Sweden international a new deal should surgery not be required, also suggesting Ibrahimovic would consider retirement if an operation was needed.