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Peter Smith

Comment and Analysis @p_smith86

Is Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic getting better with age?

Last Updated: 10/04/17 11:09am

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has increased his goal-scoring rate since turning 30
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has increased his goal-scoring rate since turning 30

Zlatan Ibrahimovic compared himself to Benjamin Button after helping Manchester United beat Sunderland on Sunday - and the Swede has indeed proved to be a curious case of a player improving after turning 30.

The 35-year-old United striker has scored 28 goals in all competitions for the Old Trafford club this season, dismissing any suggestions he would struggle in England after his free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain last summer.

With 17 Premier League goals to his name, he's in contention for the golden boot, and is aiming to add the Europa League to the Community Shield and EFL Cup he's already won with United this season, while also battling for a top-four finish.

Sunderland 0-3 Manchester Utd
Sunderland 0-3 Manchester Utd

It seems age is having no impact on Ibrahimovic's ability. In fact, he says he's potentially more effective than ever. "It seems that the older I get, the more intelligent I get," he told Sky Sports. "I am getting better and better and, like I said, I feel like Benjamin Button - I was born old and I will die young!"

Who is Benjamin Button?

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a person who ages backwards.

Interestingly, the stats back up Ibrahimovic's perception.

Before turning 30 in 2011, the former Malmo, Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona and AC Milan ace scored 232 goals in 528 appearances.

Since that landmark birthday, playing for Milan, PSG and United, he's gone on to score 250 goals in just 308 appearances.

Age-defying Ibrahimovic

Age Goals Games
Before turning 30 232 528
After turning 30 250 308

In other words, Ibrahimovic has gone from scoring one goal every 2.28 games to scoring every 1.2 games.

Critics would suggest his time spent in France's Ligue 1 has skewed those figures, with Ibrahimovic netting 156 times for the dominant Paris club across four seasons, but his scoring exploits haven't relented in England - in fact, he's struck in 41 per cent of Manchester United's 51 matches across all competitions this term.

With his contract set to expire this summer, Ibrahimovic is yet to announce whether he'll be extending his stay at Manchester United.

Whatever other factors are in play when he comes to deciding where he'll be for the 2017/18 season, his ability to keep performing at the top level for another campaign won't be in doubt for the age-defying striker.

Ibrahimovic's goal-scoring in his 30s (from 3 October 2011)

Season Team Goals
2011/12 AC Milan 32
2012/13 PSG 35
2013/14 PSG 41
2014/15 PSG 30
2015/16 PSG 50
2016/17 Man Utd 28*
3 Oct 2011-21 June 2016 Sweden 34

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  • Ibra: I feel like Benjamin Button
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