Image Credit: REUTERS
Despite his team’s 3-1 loss to Udinese, Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan became the oldest goal scorer in Serie A history.
At the conclusion of the first half, Ibrahimovic, 41, converted a second-chance penalty after Marco Silvestri, the home goalie, had stopped his first attempt.
The Swedish player’s first goal after making a full recovery from a major knee injury.
However, Udinese scored through a low drive from Roberto Pereyra and a goal from Beto in stoppage time of the first half before Kingsley Ehizibue scored a third goal after 70 minutes.
Ibrahimovic assisted Milan in winning the Serie A championship the previous season before requiring surgery for an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the summer.
He only started playing again in February, and before starting this game, he only made three substitute appearances. He is now Milan’s oldest captain.
After Jaka Bijol was found to have handled the ball after a video assistance referee examination, Ibrahimovic then had the opportunity to set another record.
Ibrahimovic’s first penalty attempt was saved, but it was retaken as the hosts encroached, and he blasted in his second chance.
With that, the striker, who is now 41 years and 166 days old, broke Alessandro Costacurta’s previous record for the oldest league goal scorer (41 years, 25 days).
The hosts had scored after only six minutes with Pereyra’s effort into the corner before Ibrahimovic’s equalize, with Udinese coach Andrea Sottil sent out for arguing against the retaken penalty.
A few minutes later, though, Udinese took the lead back thanks to goals from Beto and Ehizibue, who were both on loan from Tottenham and assisted by Isaac Success.
Udinese has moved up to ninth after the loss, placing AC Milan fourth.
Ibrahimovic’s return to the starting lineup will still be a huge help for Milan, who will play Serie A champion Napoli in a two-leg Champions League quarterfinal in April.