Sweden has a new best player as Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s ten-year reign as the country’s Golden Ball winner has come to an end.
From 2007 to 2016, Ibrahimovic’s performances were rewarded with the annual Guldbollen prize but, on Monday, that era came to an end.
At this year’s awards ceremony in Stockholm, FC Krasnodar defender Andreas Granqvist picked up the honour.
Fresh from leading Sweden to the World Cup following a 1-0 aggregate victory over Italy in the play-offs, Granqvist’s stock is at an all-time high and he was duly rewarded.
Ibrahimovic is the only player to have won the award on 11 occasions, having also claimed the accolade in 2005, but his time appears to be up.
The Manchester United forward had been sidelined for more than six months with a significant knee injury but made his return to Premier League action on Saturday, making a substitute appearance in the Red Devils’ 4-1 victory over Newcastle.
But while Ibrahimovic, Sweden’s record goalscorer, missed out on the top honour, he did pick up the best attacker prize at Monday’s ceremony.
The 36-year-old’s ability to recover from the ligament damage to his knee so quickly has been nothing short of amazing, particularly when you consider the fact that the injury was more serious than was initially believed.
“If people knew the real injury, they would be in shock that I was even playing,” Ibrahimovic said, via the Guardian. “It was more than the knee but I will keep it personal – that’s why I choose not to talk of it.
“In my recovery I have not rushed anything; I have been out for six and half months. I have been following protocol and my schedule day by day. The only secret has been working hard. Those close to me know what I have been doing. I was working five, six hours a day.
“When it happened I said giving up was not an option. My only focus was on coming back and coming back better. I know it’s my head playing, not my knee; my knee has to follow. With my experience and career I know what I have to do but I feel good. I am very proud of the moment to play again and for everyone around me because I wouldn’t have done it alone. Thanks to the supporters for keeping me motivated, the coach who’s trusted me, the club that believes in me and my family obviously.”
