Soccer-'Past, present & future' Zlatan back in Sweden squad after knee injury

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Serie A - AC Milan v Salernitana - San Siro, Milan, Italy - March 13, 2023 AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic during the warm up REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden welcomed back Zlatan Ibrahimovic from a knee injury on Tuesday ahead of their opening European Championship qualifier, with the record international goal-scorer cheekily declaring himself the past, present and future of the side.

The 41-year-old recently returned from a 14-month injury layoff and scored a penalty for AC Milan against Udinese to become the oldest player ever to score in Italy's Serie A. He is now setting his sights on the opening Euro qualifier with Belgium on Friday in Stockholm.