August 29 – Former Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimović received the 2025 UEFA President’s Award at the UEFA Champions League draw in Monaco yesterday.
Ibrahimović made 122 appearances for his country scoring 66 goals. His club career saw him play 637 games, scoring 406 goals. Having started at Malmo he played for Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, PSG, Manchester United and LA Galaxy.
However the award is given as much for off-field good works as for startling displays on it.
Ibrahimović has contributed to humanitarian causes, including significant donations to hospitals and efforts to support children in need. He has also leveraged his global platforms to advance critical causes – raising awareness and mobilising resources to combat hunger, promote education, and support disaster relief efforts, said UEFA.
The award presentation was woven into the pre-Champions League draw presentation with a video showing a warmer and humorous side to UEFA’s often stern exterior.
The narrative saw Ibrahimović claiming that the success of the new Champions League format was all his idea and there was more change to come. Ceferin countered this by angrily claiming there was no change happening, the format was a big success and the media had it wrong.
But with Ibrahimovic taking the plaudits Ceferin summoned his senior team at UEFA to his office in Nyon to discuss the issue. Ibrahimovic was called in the middle of a meeting with his masseuse and Ceferin struck a secret deal with him.
The reveal was Ibrahimović’s Presidential Award;
“Zlatan is known as the ultimate competitor, a natural-born winner, and a pop-culture icon. But above all, he’s a remarkable human being – a golden boy who never forgot his roots, quietly putting compassion before recognition, always reaching out to those in need. I’m very proud that this year’s award found its way into his hands”, said Čeferin.
Ibrahimović, who stayed on stage to help with the draw, said: “To receive this award is a big honour, I want to thank the UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin for this. It means I did something in my career or else I wouldn’t get it, I’m super happy. I was lucky to play with big players and big clubs. It made me the person I am today.”
Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]