Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been called up to the Sweden squad at the age of 41 for their European Championship qualifiers, a year after his last cap. Sweden will face Belgium and Azerbaijan later this month.
The AC Milan forward has been sidelined for much of the season because of a knee injury. He quit international football after Euro 2016 but returned in 2021 for their unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign.
Boss Janne Andersson said he doesn’t see Ibrahimovic “as a starter” but that it will offer his side more “substitution possibilities”.
Ibrahimovic, who has made three appearances from the bench for AC Milan this season, last featured for his country against Poland in their World Cup qualification play-off loss in 2022. The former Manchester United and Paris St-Germain striker is Sweden’s all-time top scorer, with 62 goals in 121 matches.
Cristiano Ronaldo to be included in Portugal squad for upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to be included in Portugal’s squad for this month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Iceland.
Ronaldo, 38, had previously been coy on his international future in the aftermath of Portugal’s quarter-final exit at the hands of Morocco at the 2022 World Cup.
The former Manchester United forward has since left Europe to join Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr but he remains committed to representing his country.
Ronaldo has the joint-most international caps in the history of men’s football with 196, a record he shares with Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa.
Al-Mutawa is still active and could face the Philippines next Thursday, the same day Portugal host Liechtenstein..
Ronaldo is set to feature under his fifth Portugal manager due to Roberto Martinez’s appointment as manager in January.
He previously played for Portugal’s senior team under Luiz Felipe Scolari, Carlos Queiroz, Paulo Bento and Fernando Santos.
Martinez met Ronaldo before deciding to call up the veteran forward. His decision to prolong his international career will benefit the Portuguese FA’s finances.
The former Belgium head coach said he hoped Ronaldo would continue to represent his country when he was unveiled at the start of the year.
“We’re going to start a footballing process to try to get to know all the players that could make it to the national team,” said Martinez. “We’re going to give all the players an opportunity and respect all those who are already in the national team. Cristiano is one of them.
“I’m delighted to be able to have them by my side. It’s a process that we have to face naturally, with responsibility, and we’re going to make important decisions for the team.”
Ronaldo has scored eight goals in nine games for Al Nassr, who are second in the Saudi Pro League.
