It's a shame Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Scottish swansong will not have Celtic crowd

There are footballing deities and there is Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The AC Milan striker is due to arrive in Scotland today as his side prepare to take on Celtic in a Europa League group clash.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (L) of AC Milan celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan on Saturday (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

When debates about the current greatest footballer in the world are conducted, they always seem to involve three players: Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar.

Every so often, however, comes a reason to be reminded that a fourth player demands to be included in the same bracket. Indeed, perhaps he deserves to be put in a class of his own.

After all, while it’s possible Ronaldo, already 35-years-old, might be reaching the heights at 39, Ibrahimovic’s age now, will Messi and Neymar still be producing match-winning performances in such high-profile games as the Milan derby when they are in their 40th year?

Ibrahimovic struck twice against Inter Milan at the weekend in his first game back for AC Milan after recovering from a positive test for Covid-19. He continually finds way to enhance the legend. Nothing, not even a serious ACL injury sustained two years ago while at Manchester United, not even that coronavirus diagnosis, can stop him.

He is admittedly prone to cringe-making statements. When he left LA Galaxy to sign for AC Milan, he declared: “I came, I saw, I conquered.” The thing is, after 52 goals in 56 games, he had done.

And after being struck down by Covid-19 he noted in Donald Trump-esque fashion: “Covid had the courage to challenge me. Bad idea.” Again, he proved he does possess superhuman qualities. The pity is no fans will witness live his likely last-ever performance in Scotland on Thursday against Celtic.