Ageless striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic said he felt like film character Benjamin Button after taking his tally for the season to 28 goals in Manchester United's 3-0 win at Sunderland.

Ibrahimovic, 35, opened the scoring in the 30th minute of Sunday's game at the Stadium of Light, rolling Billy Jones and crashing a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

“The older you are, the more experienced, the more intelligent and you don't waste energy on things you don't need," Ibrahimovic told Sky Sports.

"I feel like Benjamin Button. I was born old and will die young," he added, citing the 2008 Brad Pitt film about a man who ages in reverse.

United manager Jose Mourinho said: "You need these players to break it. Every team has a couple of them. Zlatan did that."

Victory saw United close to within four points of Manchester City, who occupy the fourth and final Champions League qualifying berth.