Gareth Bale came inches away from cashing in on his career and his profile as a big figure in the soccer world as he looked set to earn $1.22 million per week at Chinese club Jiangsu Suning. With that kind of money being offered, it makes you wonder where it all comes from.
We all know how Zlatan Ibrahimovic can be. He is incredibly talented but can also be, well, a little too into himself. He did, after all, just refer to himself as a Ferrari among Fiats in Major League Soccer.
(Editor’s Note: See update below on Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s punishment.)
Mohamed El-Munir, LAFC’s left back, needs surgery after a love tap from Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Friday. After visiting a specialist on Monday, it was revealed the 27-year-old has a zygomatic fracture on his face.
I understand professional sports are full of trash talk and bravado; the unnecessary and macho behavior is everywhere. But there is a time and place for such brashness, and following a heavy defeat is certainly not one of them. That said, the Zlatan vs Vela rivalry is becoming one of the best reasons to watch MLS this season.
In another fiery edition of “El Trafico,” Zlatan Ibrahimović played spoiler again by netting a perfect hat trick in a 3-2 win against Los Angeles FC, which has yet to beat its crosstown rival in four meetings now.
Ibrahimović told ESPN on Thursday that he was a superior player to LAFC’s Carlos Vela despite the latter’s impressive start to the season. He backed it up with Friday’s performance.
Tomorrow night at 9:00 p.m. CT on ESPN, the LA Galaxy hosts Los Angeles FC in the fourth edition of El Tráfico. The early days of the Los Angeles Derby have been largely dominated by two players: LAFC’s Carlos Vela is the rivalry's top scorer with four to his name, but the Galaxy’s Zlatan Ibrahimović is right behind him with three, including that unforgettable brace on his MLS debut.
After watching the Swedish women’s national team finish third at the Women’s World Cup, it appears the men’s national team is going to drastic measures to keep up with the women.
As highlighted by @medverk on Instagram, Sweden is turning to machinery to improve its soccer team, because Zlatan Ibrahimovic just can’t cut it compared to Kosovare Asllani.
While you were probably busy pounding beers and watching fireworks, Zlatan Ibrahimovic had one of his busiest days of the year.
The Galaxy striker had to carry his team to its 11th win, scoring two goals to secure that win. He then joined the internet in the #BottleCapChallenge trend.
And he did all of this, with his name misspelled on his jersey.
The Fourth of July is a time for unnecessary parades, celebrating overzealous patriotism with the sounds of war and relaxing with a cold beer in the hot sun followed by binge-watching Season 3 of Stranger Things.
It is not, apparently, a time for spelling names correctly.
The LA Galaxy defeated Toronto FC 2-0 on Thursday night, an appropriate celebration of the United States’ Independence Day as one of the league’s standard bearers defeated the best Canadian club. But the two goals were scored by a Swede whose name was remarkably misspelled on his own jersey.