Zlatan lights up 'El Trafico' with perfect hat-trick
Earlier in the week, the 37-year-old LA Galaxy striker was asked whether he was still the best player in the MLS, given Los Angeles FC forward Carlos Vela is the top scorer this season.
Answer: "By far. Because if he's [Vela] in his prime. How old is he? 29. And he's playing in MLS and he's in his prime. When I was 29 [I was in Europe]. Big difference."
So on Friday night the two strikers featured on opposite sides of the Los Angeles derby - 'El Trafico' to locals - and you can probably guess what happened next.
Vela scored twice to take his tally to 21 goals for the season. Ibrahimovic scored a hat-trick. And a perfect hat-trick at that - right foot, left foot, header.
"When you play against a rival like that, in a full stadium, I get pumped. I get adrenaline. This is considered to be the biggest game in the league and I show up in the biggest games," said the Swede after the match.
"I am in play-off mode every day."In a press conference after the game, Ibrahimovic told the media: "I have a lot of respect for Vela. But you did one mistake, you compare him with me. That was your biggest mistake."
The former Manchester United, Inter and Ajax striker now has 41 goals in 44 MLS games and 520 career goals across all leagues.
AFCON 2019 Golden Boot Winner, Ighalo, Retires
The 30-year-old Shanghai Shenhua striker struck five times as the Super Eagles finished third in Egypt, bagging him the top scorer honours with two goals more than Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez and Cedric Bakambu.
"It's been an amazing 5 years journey, but after the due consultation and extensive discussion with my family, I have decided it's time for me to retire from the national team," Ighalo said in a statement.
"It's been an eventful and most memorable opportunity to serve my country with pride, passion and contribute my quota to the development of our football.
"It's now time to concentrate on club football and give the younger players a chance to learn and grow."Ighalo almost quit Nigeria duty after last year's World Cup following sharp criticism and even death threats, but was encouraged to stay on by Gernot Rohr, who Ighalo says stood by him "against all odds".
Pacquiao outpoints Thurman to become world welterweight champion at 40
Thurman - previously undefeated - had promised to send the 40-year-old Fillipino into retirement, but was knocked down in the first round before a thrilling fight went the distance.
"I knew it was too close," said American Thurman. "He got the knockdown so he had momentum in round one. This was a beautiful night of boxing."The 30-year-old had been looking for his 30th straight win.
Two judges scored it 115-112 to Pacquiao, while the other gave it 114-113 to Thurman.
Pacquiao - a world champion at eight weights - was fighting for the 71st time in a stellar career that has seen seven defeats, but with four of those losses coming in his past 11 fights before the meeting with Thurman.
Afterwards, Pacquiao said he felt "blessed" and he will return to the Philippines to resume his work as a senator before deciding his next move.
Hassan breaks world mile record
The 26-year-old clocked a time of 4:12.33 seconds to beat the 4:12.56 set in 1996 by Russia's Svetlana Masterkova.
The race at the Stade Louis II was named the "Brave like Gabe Mile" in honour of former American middle distance runner Gabe Grunewald, who died from cancer last month at the age of 32.
Hassan, who had broken the 5km road race world record in Monaco in February, moved into the lead with 600 metres remaining and cut loose over the final lap before writing her name in the record books.
from Bola Esho's Blog
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