[Archive 2016-06-23] Zlatan to retire from international football

Historical archive — originally published 2016-06-23. This report records what was known on that date. It is not current news; subsequent events may have changed the situation. Wikinews closed in May 2026.

On Tuesday, Sweden's football captain Zlatan Ibrahimović announced he will not play international football again after UEFA Euro 2016. He said he will not participate in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil in August.

Since his international debut in 2001, Ibrahimović has made 116 appearances for Sweden and scored 62 goals, a national record. In this year's EURO competition, Sweden have lost to Italy, drawn against the Republic of Ireland, and lost their final game against Belgium, scoring only once through an Irish own goal.

According to the Swedish Football Association, Kim Källström and Andreas Isaksson will also end their international careers after the Euro campaign. Losing 0–1 to Belgium in yesterday's match, Sweden was eliminated from the tournament.

In 2014, Ibrahimović was placed second on a list of Swedish sport stars, behind tennis player and five-time Wimbledon winner Björn Borg. Ibrahimović said in reaction, "[...] to finish second is like finishing last."

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