Zlatan was handed a red card and sent off the field. Image: AFP
Outspoken Swedish football hero Zlatan Ibrahimovic makes headlines almost as much for his off-pitch comments as his footballing prowess.
This time, he's being discussed threadbare for calling the opposing team 'babies'. The Paris St-Germain striker described opponents Chelsea as 'babies' after he was handed a red card and sent off the field in their Champions League match on Wednesday. The match ended in a tie.
"When the red card happened, the worst thing was the Chelsea players. I felt there were 11 babies around me," said Zlatan, being, well, typically Zlatan.
Soon, this Vine video of his statement vent viral. At the time of writing this, the video had been viewed over a million times.
Social media immediately took notice:
Love him or hate him, you have to admit Zlatan Ibrahimovic keeps fans entertained even when he's not scoring goals.
Here are some of his most 'Zlatanic' quotes:
On a move against Stephane Henchoz of Liverpool:
---"First I went left, he did too. Then I went right, and he did too. Then I went left again, and he went to buy a hot dog."
When a reporter asked him what he would get his wife for her birthday:
--"Nothing. She already has Zlatan."
On refusing a trial at Arsenal:
--"Arsene Wenger asked me to have a trial with Arsenal when I was 17. I turned it down. Zlatan doesn't do auditions."
About his time in Barcelona:
-- "The dressing room was way too quiet. Messi, Xavi and Iniesta always obeyed without protest. They were like schoolboys. I am not like that. I couldn't be myself."