Viktor Gyokeres Sets Sights on Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Sweden Record

Viktor Gyokeres has set his sights on breaking Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s record as Sweden’s all-time leading goalscorer.

The Arsenal striker made his ambition clear while speaking at Sweden’s team hotel outside Valencia earlier this week, insisting he believes he can eventually surpass the former national team captain.

“Of course it is possible," as quoted by Fotbollskanalen. "Yes, if I continue playing and play for a longer period,” the 28-year-old said when asked whether catching Ibrahimovic was realistic.

Asked whether breaking the record was a personal target, he added: “It’s a goal to work towards, 100 percent.”

“It is clear that I want to continue on that track and score goals for the national team. It’s a fantastic feeling. It can’t get much better than that.”

Gyokeres strengthened his case on Saturday, scoring twice in Sweden’s 3–2 Nations League victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Solna.

Daniel Svensson opened the scoring with a fifth-minute header before Gyokeres converted a penalty six minutes later. The striker then scored from the spot again in first-half stoppage time to give Sweden a commanding 3–0 lead.

Armin Gigovic and former Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac found the net after the break, but Sweden held on to secure all three points. The victory confirmed their first-place finish in Nations League B Group 4 and promotion to League A.

The result also extended Gyokeres’ remarkable scoring run in the competition. He has now found the net in eight consecutive Nations League appearances, extending his own record, and has six goals in five matches this autumn.

Before this campaign, the previous mark of five consecutive scoring appearances was shared by Slovenia’s Benjamin Sesko and Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Gyokeres has scored 27 goals in 42 appearances for Sweden, moving into the top ten of the country’s all-time scoring list. Ten of those goals have come this year under head coach Graham Potter.

Ibrahimovic remains comfortably ahead with 62 goals in 122 appearances, but Gyokeres has made significant progress. He also scored the decisive goal in Sweden’s 3–2 victory over Poland in March, which secured qualification for this summer’s World Cup.

His form at international level contrasts with a more difficult start to life at Arsenal.

Gyokeres has scored twice for the Gunners this season, against Fleetwood in the Carabao Cup and Slavia Prague in the Champions League on November 4, but is still waiting for his first Premier League goal after seven appearances.

Sweden, meanwhile, have 13 points from five Nations League matches and will conclude their group campaign away to Poland on Tuesday.

Arsenal return to Premier League action next weekend with a trip to Saint James Park to face Newcastle United.