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Zlatan Ibrahimovic insists he has made his critics eat their words after the Manchester United striker scored one goal less than Lionel Messi in 2016

He was denied the honour of finishing 2016 as Europe's joint top marksman with Lionel Messi, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic couldn't let the old year pass without a parting shot at the critics who doubted his ability to play in the Premier League at 35.

Referee Lee Mason harshly chalked off the Manchester United striker's first-half effort for a high boot on Middlesbrough keeper Victor Valdes, meaning Ibrahimovic was stuck on a half century of goals for the year for Paris Saint-Germain and United against Messi's total of 51 for Barcelona.

But the Swedish star doesn't need records to prove the doubters wrong, and aimed a colourful barb at those who suggested he was past it when he arrived at Old Trafford in the summer.