Zlatan Ibrahimovic returns to Sweden national team for upcoming World Cup qualifiers

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to return to the national team for the first time since 2016

Ibrahimovic has not played for Sweden for nearly five years (Getty Images)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been selected for the Sweden national team for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

The 39-year-old has not featured for his country since retiring after the 2016 European Championships. But he has now been re-called to the set-up just three months out from Euro 2020.

Ibrahimovic tweeted a photo of himself playing for Sweden and added: “The return of the God @svenskfotboll.”

Ibrahimovic has excelled since re-joining AC Milan at the start of the 2020-21 campaign. The Swedish striker has netted 27 goals in 41 games and is the joint-fourth top scorer in Serie A.

Explaining his decision to recall Ibrahimovic, national team coach Janne Andersson said: "First and foremost, he is a very good football player, the best we have had in Sweden. It is of course very funny that he wants to come back.

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"In addition to what he can contribute on the pitch, he has incredible experience and can contribute it to other players in the team."

Sweden will face Georgia on March 25 before taking on Kosovo three days later and finally Estonia on 31 March. The next scheduled fixtures for Sweden are then their three Euro 2020 matches.

Ibrahimovic could be set to play at Euro 2020 as he eyes one final major international tournament (Getty Images)

Andersson’s team have been drawn in a group alongside Spain, Slovakia and Poland, with their first match of the tournament coming on 14 June.