Ibrahimović named Sweden's best yet again

Zlatan Ibrahimović's unique stature in Swedish football was underlined once more when he was named the country's player of the year for a record sixth time.

The AC Milan striker already held the mark for most Golden Ball awards and this was the fifth year in a row he picked up the honour – no other player has received the accolade more than twice since its inception in 1946.

The 30-year-old, who lifted the 2010/11 Italian Serie A title with Milan and scored five goals in eight games as Sweden qualified for UEFA EURO 2012, said: "After so many times up here, what's left to say? But it's like before: I thank my team-mates, coaches and family. Without them I could never have maintained a high level through all these years."

Meanwhile, Lotta Schelin won her second Diamond Ball as Sweden's female player of the year. The Olympique Lyonnais forward helped her country to third place at the FIFA Women's World Cup in July and also won the UEFA Women's Champions League with her club. "I've never had a better season so if ever I were to win this award, this was the year," she said.

On the domestic scene, Helsingborgs IF's South African midfielder May Mahlangu was honoured as the Allsvenskan's leading performer, while best newcomer went to AIK Solna centre-back Alexander Milošević. The Damallsvenskan's player of the year was Ramona Bachmann of Umeå IK and Sofia Jakobsson – ex Umeå, now with FC Rossiyanka – took the breakthrough prize.

Kurt Hamrin, 76, collected a lifetime achievement award from special guest, UEFA President Michel Platini. Highlights of Hamrin's career include reaching the 1958 FIFA World Cup final and landing the European Champion Clubs' Cup with Milan and the European Cup Winners' Cup with both Milan and ACF Fiorentina.