Zlatan Ibrahimovic has provided a freakish update as he recovers from ACL surgery ahead of the new season.The legendary forward revealed he played the last part of the 2021/22 season without an ACL in his knee in order to help AC Milan over the line, as they clinched the Serie A title.Despite suffering the injury aged 40, Ibrahimovic has signed a contract to the end of the 2022/23 season and will resume his career upon recovering from his current setback.Many predicted Ibrahimovic's iconic career at football's highest level was over when a similar injury brought to an end his tenure at Manchester United.But after moving to LA Galaxy in 2017, Ibrahimovic showed the world he still very much had it and returned to Milan in 2020, providing Stefano Pioli's youthful side with a ruthless finishing ability and crucial edge of experience in attack.He continues to prove that his longevity is extraordinary, having bagged 36 goals in 64 appearances since returning to the Rossoneri. Injuries have finally begun to slow Ibrahimovic down and prove that he is actually human after all, but his latest recovery images have once again thrown that fact into doubt.Ibrahimovic has been sharing details of his recovery process on social media since the end of the season. At the end of May, he revealed that he had regularly been having his knee drained of fluid and shared a video of the procedure. You can view it below - but be warned, it might be best to skip ahead if you're a little squeamish!
WATCH: Ibrahimovic's gruelling knee surgery
Since the regular knee surgeries, though, the 40-year-old has been building his fitness back up and recently shared an updated picture of his legs.
Words don't do the guy and his work ethic justice, in truth, so be sure to check it out below.
Ibrahimovic's absurd leg gains since surgery
Accompanying the frightening image of his leg gains is the caption 'limitless' and a hashtag #11weeksafter, implying that this is the latest update in Ibrahimovic's current road to recovery.
And what an update it is. He really is a machine. The gains when comparing that picture to the video of him having his knee drained are absolutely clear to see. Suddenly, in the space of just 11 weeks, Ibrahimovic's legs are looking freakishly vascular and incredibly muscular.
Let's check out how fans reacted to his insane progress.
How on earth can one get to that kind of condition, so soon after surgery?
Of course he has a long way to go and one image doesn't give away much in terms of how long it really is before we can expect to see the Swedish forward in action once again.
ACL injuries result in notoriously lengthy absences, so to expect him back in action on the pitch before the year is out would be unrealistic, even if he has already managed to get into unbelievable shape.
The signs are promising, though, and the fact that his legs alone look to be stronger than most other footballers - after such a surgery - is ridiculous. It's the off-season, Zlatan - give everyone else a chance.