Zlatan being Zlatan, again ... it seems Zlatan Ibrahimovic doesn’t agree with history.
The top-scoring international scorer in Swedish soccer wasn’t very pleased when Stockholm daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter named him the second-best sports star in Swedish history, handing the top spot to tennis star Bjorn Borg.

Dagens Nyheter newspaper ranked the top 150 Swedish sports stars of all time as part of the paper's 150th birthday celebration. Five-time Wimbledon champion Borg finished in the top spot ahead of Paris Saint Germain's Ibrahimovic — and Zlatan wasn't happy about it. “Thank you, but coming in second is like coming last,” he told DN. “With all respect to the others, I am number 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 on that list,”

Zlatan, who has made numerous headlines in the past with his sharp tongue and enormous ego, at least admitted that Borg was a “cool person and a living legend.”

The top-10 of the DN list was an interesting mix of male and female athletes and their sports. According to the list, the top-10 Swedish athletes of all time are:
1. Björn Borg (Tennis)
2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Football)
3. Jan-Ove Waldner (Table Tennis)
4. Annika Sörenstam (Golf)
5. Ingemar Stenmark (Skiing)
6. Carolina Klüft (Track and field)
7. Ingemar Johansson (Boxing)
8. Gunde Svahn (Skiing)
9. Peter Forsberg (Hockey)
10. Gert Fredriksson (Canoeing/kayaking, single and double)

Bäckström off the hook
Nicklas Bäckström, who missed last year's Olympic ice hockey final over an alleged doping offense, received a reprimand after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) brokered an agreement with anti-doping agency WADA.
CAS said in a statement on Jan 17 that, under the agreement, Bäckström would receive the minimum sanction permitted under the WADA code, and would keep the silver medal he won when Sweden finished second in the 2014 Olympic hockey tournament.
"Mr. Bäckström, WADA, the IOC and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) are pleased that this matter has now been concluded, and wish to clarify that at no time was Mr. Bäckström's receipt of his Olympic silver medal at issue in the proceedings," said a joint statement issued by the parties.
Sweden pulled Bäckström from the final against Canada in Sochi after a drug test showed an elevated level of the stimulant pseudoephedrine. Ice hockey officials were furious at the timing and Sweden said the IOC had only told them two hours before the start of the game.
Bäckström said the adverse finding came from an over-the-counter medication he uses to treat a sinus condition, and that he had been using the medication for years without any problems.
The IOC later found that Bäckström had committed an anti-doping violation but could receive the silver medal due to mitigating circumstances. However, Bäckström appealed to CAS, challenging that a violation had taken place.
In October, the IIHF, following its own investigation, concluded that Bäckström had not violated the WADA code, prompting WADA itself to appeal to CAS.
"The IIHF, WADA and Mr. Bäckström have each agreed to resolve WADA's appeal against the IIHF Disciplinary Committee ruling on the basis that Mr. Bäckström be issued a reprimand in respect of such violation," said CAS.
"WADA, the IOC and the IIHF take this opportunity to state that there is no indication that Mr. Bäckström intended to enhance his sport performance by taking a prohibited substance," CAS said in a statement.
"The prohibited substance (PSE) was contained within a product Mr. Bäckström was taking for medical reasons … Mr. Bäckström relied on the specific advice of his team doctor that his use of the product would not give rise to a positive sample, and he openly disclosed the product on the doping control form at the time of the doping control."

Malmö FF in near-record deal
Malmö FF has agreed to a near-record transfer deal for striker Isaac Kiese Thelin with Girondins Bordeaux of the French Premier League. Bordeaux has agreed to pay a whopping 40 million kronor ($4 million) for the 22-year-old striker who electrified the Allsvenskan and the Champions League last season.
"After discussions between the two clubs, Malmö FF has decided to accept a bid from FC Girondins de Bordeaux for Isaac Kiese Thelin," the Swedish club said in a statement. “The clubs have made a verbal agreement and Isaac Kiese Thelin will meet FC Girondins de Bordeaux [January 21].”
Thelin joined Malmö last season from Norrköping after missing the first half of the season with injury. He scored five goals in 14 games as Malmö won the league title and played a key role as they became the first Swedish team to reach Champions League group stage in 14 years.
Kiese Thelin earned a call-up to Erik Hamren's Sweden squad, making his debut against Montenegro in November.
The transfer fee is the second-largest in Malmö history. Malmö sold Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2001 for 80 million kronor, which remains the highest transfer ever for a Swedish player.
Thelin is the fourth player this winter to leave Malmö as larger European clubs continue to poach players from the two-time defending Swedish champions. Malmö, however, continues to bank money in transfer fees and has a war chest of funds from its Champions League campaign.
Malmö has already dipped into its bank roll, signing Enoch Fadi, a 20-year Ghana Under-17 international, Tobias Sana, a former IFK Göteborg striker who was playing for Dutch side Jong Ajax, and on January 20 announced the signing of Norway international striker Jo Inge Berget, who was released from his contract by English Championship club Cardiff City last week.
Capped three times at senior level by Norway, the 24-year-old was signed for Cardiff by the club's Norwegian former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but he failed to impress, and his contract was cancelled by mutual consent on Friday.
"MFF is a team that plays and does not want to hit long balls, they want to get ahead by keeping the ball on the ground and play an entertaining football," said Berget said in a statement. "That's the kind of football that I advocate."
"Jo Inge Berget is an offensive player who can be used in several different positions. He's quick, skillful and contributes with both goals and assists," Malmö sporting director Daniel Andersson said in a press statement.

Rasmus Elm returns to Kalmar
Sweden midfielder Rasmus Elm has rejoined Kalmar FF on an 18-month deal following his departure from CSKA Moscow earlier this month because of a mystery stomach problem that has prevented him from playing.
"In the first instance it is about Rasmus continuing his work to cure his stomach problems," the club said in a statement on their website.
"The clear ambition is that he will play football in the Allsvenskan in Kalmar's red shirt during the year. The agreement that has been signed lasts until the summer of 2016."
Elm, who suffers from gluten intolerance, added: "I see this as a good opportunity to get myself back to my level in a club and an environment I feel comfortable in."
Doctors have been unable to find the reason for the 26-year-old's stomach problem, which prevented him from training during much of 2014 and caused him to miss Sweden's friendlies against Denmark and Belgium.
Elm returns to the club where he won Sweden's Allsvenskan in 2008 during a 4.5-year spell, and has been capped 39 times by his country.