(CNN) -- Zlatan Ibrahimovic produced a memorable performance after his four-goal salvo helped Sweden defeat England in Stockholm.
The 31-year-old, who has scored ten goals in as many games for club side Paris Saint-Germain, was on fire once again as Roy Hodgson's men were swept away.
The Swedish skipper had given his side a 20th minute lead before goals from Manchester United's Danny Welbeck and Tottenham's Steven Caulker gave England a half-time.
Ibrahimovic arrival marks watershed moment for Paris Saint-Germain
But it was Ibrahimovic who stole the show after the interval, with three strikes in the final 12 minutes.
A day in the life of Cristiano Ronaldo
Mourinho on the enigma of Balotelli
Lionel Messi, center, celebrates with Barcelona teammates Cesc Fabregas, left, and Xavi Hernandez after matching Pele's 75 goals in a calendar year.
Messi moves past Pele milestone
After netting a 78th minute equaliser, Ibrahimovic slammed home a rasping 30-yard free-kick before rounding off his night with a scarcely believable scissors kick.
It ruined the night for England captain Steven Gerrard, who had hoped to celebrate his 100th cap with victory.
Gerrard told ITV 1: "I still stick by Zinedine Zidane, he is the best player in the world as the best player of his generation, but his (Ibrahimovic's) performance was world class and he just scored one of the best goals I seen live.
"It was his night. If someone scores four goals and the way he scored them....it's one of the best I've seen."
Hodgson added: "The fourth goal was extraordinary, but it was the second and third goals which cost us.
"For 70 minutes we were playing very well and we deserved to be in the lead, but we made changes and they took the initiative."
Elsewhere, France recorded an impressive 2-1 victory over Italy after it came from behind in Parma.
Milan star Stephan El Shaarway gave the hosts the lead only for France to hit back through Mathieu Valbuena and Bafetimbi Gomis.
The highly anticipated grudge match between the Netherlands and Germany failed to catch light as it finished goalless in Amsterdam.
Messi passes Pele's goal milestone
Lionel Messi drew a rare blank after Argentina was held to a goalless draw by Saudi Arabia.
Despite boasting the likes of Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria in their starting line-up, Argentina were unable to make the breakthrough against a stubborn Saudi defence.
Mikkel Diskerud scored a late equalizer as the U.S. grabbed a 2-2 draw in Russia.
Fyodor Smolov had given the hosts a ninth minute lead before Michael Bradley's fine effort brought the U.S. level.
Roman Shirokov looked to have won the contest with an 84th minute penalty but Diskerud fired home late on to ensure the game finished level.
Elsewhere, Portugal was held to a 2-2 draw in Gabon, Uruguay defeated Poland 3-1 and Greece claimed a 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland.
Loading weather data ...
© 2013 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The Argentina star then moved past the Brazil legend with his second goal of the match against Mallorca, which left Messi nine short of the best tally for a year held by Germany's Gerd Muller.
Messi is in line to win a fourth successive world player of the year award in January. Pele presented him with the Ballon d'Or at the start of this year.
Pele scored 75 goals in 1958, when he launched onto the football scene as a 17-year-old and helped Brazil win that year's World Cup.
That feat was surpassed in 1972 by Muller, who scored 85 goals as West Germany won the European Championship and his club Bayern Munich lifted the Bundesliga title.
|