Zlatan leaves on a high
Zlatan Ibrahimovic headed home a minute from time to break Paris Saint-Germain's single season Ligue 1 scoring record in a 4-0 rout of Nantes on Saturday.
With the title long wrapped up and a French Cup final against bitter rivals Marseille to come a week later, the night was all about Ibrahimovic and his quest to break the 37-goal single season PSG record at the Parc des Princes.
Starting the game with 36 goals, the Swedish striker equalled the 1997-98 club record of Argentine Carlos Bianchi in the 18th minute with his 37th of the season.
Ibrahimovic then netted his record 38th a minute from time from Javier Pastore's cross to end a match-long quest that looked set to frustrate him.
"I'm feeling very emotional. Today is a very special day after four years together winning lots of trophies," said Ibrahimovic.
"Thank you 'Ibracadabra', these four years will remain in my heart."
Ibrahimovic said he hoped PSG would keep on winning, adding: "Without Ibra it's difficult, but it's possible!"
It was the perfect end to his last match at the Parc in a PSG shirt before leaving for pastures new and he was immediately substituted, but not before his children ran onto the pitch wearing PSG replica shirts bearing the names King and Legend on their backs -- a reference to Ibrahimovic's Friday tweet in announcing his departure: "I came like a king, left like a legend."
If anyone had been in any doubt who the night was about, that was surely dispelled in the 10th minute when the ground as one rose to applaud their talismanic import.
Wearing the number 10 jersey, Ibrahimovic acknowledged the crowd as Nantes obligingly waited for almost a minute before taking a free-kick.
The visiting defence seemed to oblige in more ways than one against a team clearly intent solely on setting up their centre-forward to score.
Ibrahimovic notched his first goal as he played the ball out wide on the right to Angel Di Maria, before sprinting to the back stick where he was able to chest home the Argentine's cross on his knees from six yards out without a yellow-shirted defender in sight.
PSG's desire to tee up their stand-in captain for the night took on comic proportions 10 minutes from half-time. When faced with a clear shooting opportunity inside the box, Di Maria wiggled and twisted in trying to find Ibrahimovic rather than strike at goal.
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