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Is Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the best form of his career?

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of PSG celebrates after scoring his team's second goal
Image: Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored 35 goals in 40 appearances so far this season

At an age where most players are winding down their careers, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has insisted he is still "only just warming up".

Being 34 does not seem to be a good enough reason for the PSG striker to start slowing down, and he has insisted that he is currently in the best form of his life.

"I don't believe that it's the end of my career," he said ahead of his match-winning performance against Chelsea in the Champions League last-16 clash, where he set up the first and scored the second in a 2-1 win.

"Age is just a number. The difference is how you feel. I feel young, I feel very young. The season I've done so far, I've never had a better one statistically."

So is he right? Is this Zlatan's best ever season statistically? Here, we take a look at his time in the major leagues...

Juventus - 2004/05

Serie A: 16 goals in 35 apps

Champions League: 0 in 10

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Total: 16 goals in 45 appearances

Ratio: 0.35 goals per game

Ibrahimovic's first season in one of Europe's major leagues after joining from Ajax saw him net a solid 16 goals in 35 Serie A appearances as Juventus won the Serie A title (although it was later revoked). However, he failed to score a single goal in their run to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Zlatan reveals PL interest
Zlatan reveals PL interest

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has confirmed that Premier League clubs are interested in signing him

Juventus - 2005/06

Serie A: 7 goals in 35 apps

Champions League: 3 in 9

Other: 0 in 3

Total: 10 goals in 47 appearances

Ratio: 0.21 goals per game

A second season at Juventus saw Ibrahimovic's league form dip slightly, but he improved on the European front - netting three times in nine Champions League games. 

Vienna, AUSTRIA:  Alessandro Del Piero, captain of Juventus and Ibrahimovic (face) celebrate their goal to 2:0 during a group A Champion's League match bet
Image: Ibrahimovic celebrates with team-mate Alessandro Del Piero while at Juventus

Inter - 2006/07

Serie A: 15 goals in 27 apps

Champions League: 0 in 7

Other: 0 in 2

Total: 15 goals in 36 appearances

Ratio: 0.41 goals per game

A switch to Inter Milan following Juventus' relegation saw a marked improvement in his goal ratio, averaging more than a goal a game in Serie A. However, once again he failed to find the back of the net in the Champions League.

Inter - 2007/08

Serie A: 17 goals in 26 apps

Champions League: 5 in 7

Other: 0 in 1

Total: 22 goals in 34 appearances

Ratio: 0.64 goals per game

The Sweden international's second season at Inter Milan saw him achieve a ratio better than one goal every two games as he netted an impressive 17 Serie A goals and five in the Champions League.

Inter Milan's Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic jumps for the ball during his team's Champion League group B football match against Panathinaikos on Novem
Image: The Swedish striker in action for Inter Milan

Inter - 2008/09

Serie A: 25 goals in 35 apps

Champions League: 1 in 8

Other: 3 in 4

Total: 29 goals in 47 appearances

Ratio: 0.61 goals per game

His second season at Inter was similarly impressive on the domestic front as he netted 25 goals in 35 Serie A games, but he managed just one goal in the Champions League.

Barcelona - 2009/10

La Liga: 16 goals in 29 apps

Champions League: 4 in 10

Other: 1 in 6

Total: 21 goals in 45 appearances

Ratio: 0.46 goals per game

Ibrahimovic's sole campaign at Barcelona saw him dip below a ratio of 0.5 goals per game again as he struggled to force his way regularly into Pep Guardiola's side.

BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 25:  Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Barcelona gets up during the Joan Gamper Trophy match between Barcelona and AC Milan at Camp Nou stadi
Image: Ibrahimovic playing for Barcelona

AC Milan (loan) - 2010/11

Serie A: 14 goals in 29 apps

Champions League: 4 in 8

Other: 3 in 4 (also scored 1 goal in 1 app for Barcelona)

Total: 22 goals in 42 appearances 

Ratio: 0.52 goals per game

A loan switch to AC Milan saw him notch a solid 21 goals in 41 appearances, including four strikes in the Champions League.

AC Milan - 2011/12

Serie A: 28 goals in 32 apps

Champions League: 5 in 8

Other: 2 in 4

Total: 35 goals in 44 appearances

Ratios: 0.79 goals per game

Easily Ibrahimovic's most impressive season in Italy was his last, when he netted 28 goals in 32 Serie A appearances, five in eight in the Champions League and averaged 0.79 goals per game across all competitions.

Massimiliano Allegri, who has been linked with Chelsea, managed Zlatan Ibrahimovic at AC Milan
Image: Ibrahimovic with then boss Massimiliano Allegri (left) during his time at AC Milan

PSG - 2012/13

Ligue 1: 30 goals in 34 apps

Champions League: 3 in 9

Other: 2 in 3

Total: 35 goals in 46 appearances

Ratio: 0.76 goals per game

His first season in France saw his ratio across all competitions dip slightly, but it was the first time he managed 30 goals or more in a single league campaign, netting 30 in 34 appearances in Ligue 1.

PSG - 2013/14

Ligue 1: 26 goals in 33 apps

Champions League: 10 in 8

Other: 5 in 5

Total: 41 goals in 46 appearances

Ratio: 0.89 goals per game

Ibrahimovic's most impressive European form so far came in 2013/14 when he netted 10 times in eight Champions League appearances for PSG, as well as clearing 40 goals in all competitions for the first time in his career at a ratio of 0.89 per game.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates after scoring for PSG v Toulouse in Ligue 1
Image: Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates after scoring for PSG

PSG - 2014/15 

Ligue 1: 19 goals in 24 apps

Champions League: 2 in 6

Other: 9 in 7

Total: 30 goals in 37 appearances

Ratio: 0.81 goals per game

Last season saw Ibrahimovic net 30 goals in 37 appearances in all competitions for PSG, but it was first time since 2010/11 he managed fewer than 20 league goals in a season.

PSG - 2015/16 (so far)

Ligue 1: 30 goals in 26 apps

Champions League: 5 in 9

Other: 4 in 7

Total: 39 goals in 42 appearances

Ratio: 0.93 goals per game

So far this season, Ibrahimovic has averaged more than a goal a game in Ligue 1, and has smashed his 2014/15 tally in all competitions.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates with his Paris Saint-Germain team-mates
Image: Ibrahimovic celebrates with his PSG team-mates during the win over Chelsea

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