David Bowers picks out 10 memorable Champions League moments in the career of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Anderlecht 0-5 PSG October 23rd 2013
In October, PSG stormed to their biggest European away victory after hammering Belgian side Anderlecht 5-0, largely thanks to Ibrahimovic's awe-inspiring four goals.
The first goal warmed him up - tapping in Gregory Van Der Wiel's excellent cross from the right-hand side. His second came from another Van Der Wiel cross, but this time the Swede finished with extra panache, guiding the cross to the bottom corner with a delightful back heel.
However, his hat-trick goal summed up his performance on the night and saw all four corners of the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium rise to their feet in appreciation.
Anderlecht cleared a cross which landed in Ibrahimovic's path, who sprinted and smashed a half-volley from 35 yards that screamed into the corner at searing pace, completing his hat-trick after a mere 37 minutes.
He scored his fourth just after the hour mark, a strong strike into the far left corner that typified a man who had an abundance of confidence.
Ibrahimovic became the 11th man to hit more than four in one match, but it was his hat-trick goal that will live long in the memory.
PSG 3-0 Benfica 2nd October 2013
Ibrahimovic helped spearhead an impressive display from PSG by scoring two valuable goals at home to Benfica in October.
It was a crucial encounter as both sides headed into the Champions League group game on level points, having both won against Olympiakos and Anderlecht. The Parisians needn't have worried, as the Swede's performance was worthy of winning any game.
Ibrahimovic posed a constant threat in the air whilst looking assured on the ground, creating chances for team-mates and bagging a brace. A tidy finish was followed by a well-directed header which posed the question - is there a better out-and-out striker in world football?
Although the goals weren't particularly extraordinary, they helped to show that he is a great scorer of goals, rather than just a scorer of great goals.
Valencia 1-2 PSG - Feb 12th 2013
For all his fantastic performances and undeniable quality, Ibrahimovic's temper has boiled over on occasion.
He has been sent off at least once in every season since 2008/09, which includes slapping Napoli's Salvatore Aronica, punching a Bari defender in the chest and more recently, a wild lunge on Valencia's Andres Guardado.
His over-the-ball challenge on the Mexican resulted in his first Champions League sending off and showed the world, if they didn't already know, that Ibrahimovic is human after all.
Carlo Ancelotti's side held on for the win, but it was a forgettable night for the Swede, who has since curbed his displays of petulance.
AC Milan 4-0 Arsenal Feb 15th 2012
Leading into the game, Ibrahimovic had only scored two goals against English sides, both against Arsenal. He completed his long-overdue hat-trick by scoring the fourth in a rout over Arsene Wenger's side, but it was his fantastic all-round performance that will still haunt the Frenchman.
After Kevin-Prince Boateng's looped finish opened the scoring, Zlatan ran into the box and fired in a cross which fell directly on Robinho's head, who nodded it in to double the lead. The Swede then teased the Arsenal defence and placed a ball into the Brazilian's path, who fired in his second of the game and Ibrahimovic's second assist.
After tormenting Wenger's backline throughout, the former Ajax protégé was given the chance to wrap up a man-of-the-match performance by smashing in a penalty with supreme accuracy.
Celebrating with his arms stretched out facing the San Siro crowd, who knew they had witnessed a top-class Champions League performance.
AC Milan 2-3 Barcelona November 23rd 2011
When his Barcelona side lost to Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final in 2010, Ibrahimovic revealed his dismay at manager Pep Guardiola: ""I threw a box full of training gear across the room, it crashed to the floor and Pep said nothing, just put stuff back in the box. I'm not violent, but if I were Guardiola I would have been frightened."
Unsurprisingly, the Swede was shipped off to AC Milan on a season-long loan which eventually became permanent. When Milan and Barca were drawn together in the Champions League group stage in the 2011/12 season, the world waited in anticipation for the Zlatan vs Pep reunion.
Ever the man to grace the big stage, Ibrahimovic didn't disappoint and stroked home a Clarence Seedorf pass, celebrating with his trademark outstretched arms, a slightly subdued jog around the sideline and a wry smile, succeeding in his aim to show Barca and Guardiola just what they were missing.
Ajax 1-1 AC Milan 1 28th September 2010
Ajax are another former club of Ibrahimovic and his three years from 2001 to 2004 in Amsterdam were glittered with a serious of dazzling performances, catching the eye of Italian giants Juventus who forked out €16m for the Swedish international.
Amsterdam is also home to some of his most memorable anecdotes, revealing that he once told club captain Rafael Van der Vaart "If you accuse me again I'll break both your legs, and that time it will be on purpose," after the ex-Spurs man reckoned Ibrahimovic had deliberately injured him in a friendly between Sweden and Holland in 2004.
However, despite a few grumblings with his team-mates, the Swede's time at Ajax was highly successful and it provided a platform for him to impress.
He left Amsterdam in a bit of a dark cloud after being accused of forcing through a move to Juventus, but no one can blame him wanting to progress his career.
Almost ten years since his debut, he returned to salvage a late draw thanks to a well-taken scissor-kick and continue an impressive start for his new club, having scored four in his first five prior to the match.
AC Milan 2-0 Auxerre September 15th 2010
Wherever Ibrahimovic has played, he's been part of a successful side. When French side Auxerre arrived, Milan were on the back of woeful stretch of form which had seen Massimiliano Allegri's side fail to win their last six home European games.
The influential Swede took it upon himself to reverse the fortunes of his new side, and scored two well finished goals to end a dire run for Milan.
He was undeniably the difference in the game as the Milan defence looked wobbly throughout, despite the gulf in class between the sides on paper.
Nerves were settled after Ibra's poked finish beyond Olivier Sorin was followed by a lovely side-footed finish, after a mazy Ronaldinho run.
Arsenal 2-2 Barcelona March 31st 2010
Ibrahimovic said that his relationship with manager Pep Guardiola began to deteriorate in March, around the time he put in his first man-of-the-match performance in against Arsenal in the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final.
The Swede took advantage of an onrushing Manuel Almunia to send a glorious lob into an empty net and later picked up a superbly timed Xavi pass after breaking the offside trap, rifling the ball into the roof of the net to pick up two valuable away goals.
Despite Arsenal's stunning fightback to level the game going into the second leg at the Nou Camp, Lionel Messi's four goals ensured a 6-3 aggregate win over the Gunners.
Ibra's impact began to fade at Barca, just like his relationship with Guardiola. But his performance at the Emirates Stadium will always be fondly remembered by the Catalan fans.
Inter Milan 4-2 CSKA Moscow November 7th 2007
Ibra's time at Inter Milan was arguably his most successful, in terms of personal achievements.
His tally of 57 goals in 88 appearances is his best return at any of the seven clubs he has played for, and in the Champions League game at home to CSKA Moscow, he demonstrated a resilient side to his game.
CSKA raced into an early 2-0 lead, with Jo and Vagner Love goals shocking the San Siro spectators. Ibrahimovic and Esteban Cambiasso then single-handedly led a breathtaking fightback.
Ibrahimovic scored almost immediately after poking in a Christian Chivu freekick, after poor defending left the Swede unmarked in the six-yard area.
Soon after, Cambiasso equalised with a neat finish and the game was levelled before half time. After the break, the inevitable happened and Inter finally took the lead after a series of misses from strikers Hernan Crespo and Julio Cruz.
However, Ibrahimovic left the Inter fans purring with a superb display of strength, technique and a fighting spirit that many have questioned. He quietened his doubters by wrapping up an impressive performance with a sensational 25 yard strike that left CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev rooted to the spot.
Valencia 0-0 Inter Milan March 6th 2007
Inter Milan were knocked out of the Champions League after a goalless draw in the Mestalla, after the first leg saw the Spaniards grab a 2-2 draw at the San Siro.
At the final whistle, there were unsavoury scenes instead of celebrations. Valencia defender Carlos Marchena kicked out at Nicolas Burdisso after a confrontation between the two players, which resulted in Valencia substitute David Navarro to run onto the pitch and punch Burdisso, breaking the Argentine's nose.
Navarro tried to sprint off the pitch and was greeted by a series of attempts by Inter players to trip over and kick the substitute. Whilst chaos ensued, it'd be natural to assume Ibrahimovic would be at the heart of the fight.
Instead, the Swede was crucial in maintaining order on the pitch by trying to stop his team-mates attacking Navarro. He managed to neutralise the situation by calming down several irate Valencia and Inter players and instead of joining in the ugly scenes, Ibrahimovic uncharacteristically helped restore calm.
Despite being carded earlier in the game for a tackle on Raul Albiol, the striker showed a more admirable and unexpected side to his personality.
Ajax 2-1 Lyon September 17th 2002
A fresh-faced Ibrahimovic burst onto the scene in emphatic style back in 2002, taking just eleven minutes to show Europe just how talented he is.
Taking the ball away from goal, he was crowded out by two Lyon defenders and managed to find a gap via a sublime piece of skill. Then, from a near-impossible angle, he fired a powerful shot across Gregory Coupet's goal which smashed off the post and hit the net.
After that, ex-Liverpool midfielder Javi Litmanen played a ball through to winger Victor Sikora who pulled the ball back to the Swede, who had the relatively easy task of doubling the Dutch side's lead and duly obliged.
Despite a consolation goal from Sonny Anderson, Ibra's Ajax held on and provided him with a dream debut. The world began preparing themselves for a lot more of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
