Ibrahimovic's 2016 In Numbers

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s double in Manchester United’s win over West Bromwich Albion last weekend took his tally of club goals in 2016 so far to a phenomenal 49.

In the top divisions of world football, only Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has scored more goals at club level this calendar year. But with La Liga now on a break until the New Year, Ibrahimovic has a chance to match or surpass the Argentinian icon's mark of 51 in United’s final two games this month, against Sunderland and Middlesbrough.

Zlatan’s total comprises 16 strikes for United, including 10 in his last nine games, plus the 33 he bagged in the final half-season of his hugely successful spell with Paris Saint-Germain. 

But there are a whole host of other numbers that illustrate the superb calendar year the legendary 35-year-old striker has enjoyed…

50 - Zlatan signed off at PSG by scoring his 49th and 50th goals of the 2015/16 campaign as Les Parisiens beat Marseille 4-2 in the Coupe de France final on 21 May. It was the first time a player based in France had reached a half-century of club goals in a single season.

11 – Ibrahimovic has scored 11 goals in his first 16 Premier League appearances for United. That figure has only been bettered in an equivalent period by Ruud van Nistelrooy, who hit 12 in 2001/02, while Robin van Persie (2012/13) and Andy Cole (1994/95) also managed 11.

16 – Zlatan has plundered 16 goals in all competitions for United before Christmas Day. The last United player to achieve that was Cristiano Ronaldo in 2007/08.

8 – Ibrahimovic has scored eight goals in the last five minutes of games in 2016 – five for PSG and three for United. Two of those were winners – against Toulouse in January and Crystal Palace in December.

4 – Our centre-forward has scored four winning goals in Premier League matches for United - the afore-mentioned strike against Palace plus efforts at the expense of Southampton, Swansea City and West Brom. Only Chelsea’s Diego Costa (6) has netted more in this season.

62 – The record goal tally for Sweden that Zlatan had reached by the time he announced his retirement from international football in June, after 116 appearances.

11 – Ibrahimovic has hit more than one goal in a game on 11 occasions this year (seven times for PSG and four for United). One of his doubles came in a January victory for the French giants against the Reds’ next Europa League opponents, Saint-Etienne, while he smashed in four goals during the 9-0 rout of Troyes in March.

25 – Zlatan has made 25 appearances (22 starts, 3 as substitute) in all competitions so far this season, more than any other United team-mate. Next on the list are David De Gea and Paul Pogba, who have had 23 outings apiece (all starts).

2,102 – The number of minutes Ibrahimovic has played for United so far this term (not including injury time). He has yet to be substituted off – a rarity for an attacking player.

700 – Zlatan made his 700th club career appearance in December’s win over Tottenham Hotspur, his 23rd game for United. The rest of that tally is made up by his 47 matches for Malmo, 110 with Ajax, 92 for Juventus, 85 as an AC Milan player, 46 for Barcelona, 117 with Inter Milan and 180 as a PSG striker.

400 - Ibrahimovic scored his 400th goal at club level when he struck for the second time in United's 3-1 win at Swansea City on 6 November. His first effort in that match was also notable, for the following reason...

25,000 - Zlatan netted the Premier League's 25,000th goal when he gave his team the lead at the Liberty Stadium. When asked after the match if he was aware of the landmark, he replied: "No I wasn’t. I thought it was only me who had scored 25,000!"