Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic said he was returning to the national team after a short hiatus from his international career set doubts on his future playing for Sweden.

"What I have always said, is that I am proud to play for the national team. You can count on me to be there at the national team's next game," the Barcelona player said.

Ibrahimovic explained his break was a result of Sweden failing to qualify for the World Cup by losing to Denmark in October.

"After the last game, when we did not get into the World Cup, I felt my motivation disappear," he said.

"So I decided to give up. I had no desire to play. I'm a competitor, I play to win. After your career, you want to be remembered as someone who won," he said.

The striker said Sweden coach Erik Hamren awoke his motivation.

"He has the same mentality as me. He promised me a medal," he said, sitting next to the coach and laughing with reporters.

Hamren called the player's decision "excellent."

"A motivated Zlatan is worth gold for the Swedish team. He's one of the best players in the world," he said.

Ibrahimovic has scored 22 goals in 62 internationals and has been named Sweden's player of the year four times.