AC Milan star Zlatan Ibrahimovic has always been outspoken on various different topics. When it comes to his talent, the Swede definitely believes he is up there alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

But as he nears his 40th birthday, Ibra is realizing that he isn’t exactly the same specimen who can play through injuries anymore. A rare moment of humility from the Milan striker, via Goal:

“When I was young, I just played, even if I felt pain in my tendons,” Zlatan Ibrahimovic told Sportweek. “I wanted to win and score, stop. With time and experience, I started using my head and I realised how important it is to listen to your body.

“My head is fine, but my body is getting old, it doesn’t always keep up with it [the head] and it’s a problem. This year I have to listen to my body, every little signal it sends me.

“Only by doing so, I can avoid worse consequences. I need to listen to my body every day to play consistently. I need to think slowly, day by day, and realise that Zlatan Ibrahomic is not Superman.”

If we’re basing it off the last number of months, this is very true. Ibra was sidelined all summer with a knee injury that he sustained at the tail end of last season and just returned on September 12th against Lazio, scoring a goal as a substitute. However, Zlatan Ibrahimovic then sustained an Achilles injury that has kept him out of Stefano Pioli’s squad since, but he is eyeing a return in the Champions League next week against Atletico Madrid.

He isn’t getting any younger and clearly, his body is breaking down. But, the 39-year-old is still capable of scoring his fair share of goals, netting 15 times in 19 appearances last term for the Rossoneri. With his contract expiring next June though, it will be interesting to see if Zlatan continues to play or hangs them up after an illustrious career with some of the biggest clubs in Europe.