Ibrahimovic unveils shirtless ´Statue of Zlatan´ in Malmo

Zlatan Ibrahimovic helped to unveil his own shirtless statue in Malmo on Tuesday.

The LA Galaxy star has been immortalised in a striking bronze monument near Malmo’s stadium, where he began his professional career in 1999.

The 38-year-old posted a picture on Twitter showing him alongside the work and surrounded by crowds of fans, with the caption: “We are Zweden!!!”

The bronze Zlatan, standing on a plinth and said to measure nearly nine feet in height and close to half a ton in weight, was commissioned by Sweden’s football authorities to honour their record goalscorer.

It depicts Ibrahimovic celebrating in recognisable style, with arms outstretched and shirt off – although his famous tattoos appear not to have been carved on the glistening torso.

We are Zweden!!! pic.twitter.com/X1U2wysggN

— Zlatan Ibrahimović (@Ibra_official) October 8, 2019

Ibrahimovic hinted at the statue’s creation back in December 2016, when he was still a Manchester United player.

The former Sweden international posted a photo on Instagram of the plaster cast of the work, writing: “When you come to New York you have the Statue of Liberty, when you come to Sweden you have the Statue of Zlatan.”

Ibrahimovic is on a break ahead of the MLS playoffs, having scored 30 goals in 29 regular-season games in 2019 to help his team finish fifth in the Western Conference.

They face Minnesota United on October 20 at Allianz Field.

 

 

 

 

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When you come to New York you have the Statue of Liberty, when you come to Sweden you have the Statue of Zlatan #comingsoon

A post shared by Zlatan Ibrahimović (@iamzlatanibrahimovic) on Dec 12, 2016 at 9:56am PST