Magdalena Eriksson Calls Time On Sweden Career To “Priortize Health”

At the age of 32, Sweden’s captain Magdalena Eriksson has made the surprise decision to end her international career after 11 years in which she has won four major medals.

Eriksson had been forced to pull out of Sweden’s last set of games, a two-leg Nations League semi-final against world champions Spain. Defeat ended Eriksson a final opportunity to win a gold medal for her nation and the head injury which forced her out of the matches was the final straw for her as she opted to step away now to protect her future well-being.

“It’s a decision I’ve thought about for a very long time,” she admitted yesterday, “and I can honestly say that this is the toughest decision I’ve made in my career. But I’ve had to listen to my body and my health, and prioritize it. It’s really a decision I wish I didn’t have to make, but because of how my body is feeling these days, it’s a decision I feel I have to make.”

Eriksson’s last act as an international player was failing to convert her penalty in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 quarter-final shoot-out. Faced by her former Chelsea team-mate Hannah Hampton, she missed the opportunity to give Sweden the advantge as they eventually went out to the holders after leading in the match by 2-0 for almost an hour.

The defeat was sadly symbolic of Sweden’s recent history in major international competitions. The first-ever European champions in the women’s game, the Scandinavians have failed to lift a trophy in the 41 years since. Despite often impressing in the early stages, they have consistently fallen at the final hurdle.

During Eriksson’s career, they have reached the semi-finals in five out of the last seven tournaments but never got over the line. The defender lost in the final of two successive Olympic Gold Medal matches – to Germany in 2016 and Canada in 2021 – and also won bronze at the last two FIFA Women’s World Cups in 2019 and 2023.

In spite of her failure to win a Gold medal with Sweden, Eriksson spoke of her pride at representing the team known as Blågult (blue and yellows). “The national team has really meant so much to me over all these years. What we have achieved together in the national team is what I am most proud of in my career and I will remember all the years with so much joy.”

One of two captains of the national team, alongside Kosovare Asllani, Eriksson has always been a fearless leader of her players, both on and off the field. “We have had so much fun together and achieved so many successes, while at the same time we have pushed for many important issues, stood up for ourselves and women’s football. I am very proud of my journey with the national team.”

After defeating Canada in the Round of 16, Eriksson was pictured kissing her long-term partner, the Danish captain Pernille Harder. The photograph was held up as an example of the pair’s role in advocating LGBTQ acceptance in the sport. Speaking to the BBC about the moment, Eriksson said “we don’t really understand the big deal with it but of course it is a big deal. It’s good that it got so much positive attention as well from all around the world.”

Rather than shy away from their role, Eriksson and Harder have consistently embraced their position as ambassadors, opening up their DMs to young girls struggling with their own sexuality and speaking out against comments on the prevalance of relationships wihin the same team. Eriksson said “we are quite relaxed people. We don’t share everything. It is nice to show people who we are and that it is ok to be yourself. If that means becoming an LGBTQ+ role model then that’s what it is and we are happy to do that”.

The new Swedish head coach Tony Gustavsson never got to work with Eriksson and said “it is heavy news that Magdalena is ending her national team career. She has been one of our most important players for a long time, and her professionalism, courage and heart have left a strong mark on the national team. But I have great respect for the care she shows for her own body and future, and I am deeply grateful for everything she has contributed to Swedish football and wish her all the best in the future.”

The general manager of the national team, Marika Domanski Lyfors, added that “Magdalena will be greatly missed in the Swedish national team. She is a very skilled defender who has meant a lot to the development of this national team. Not only through her performances and winning instinct, where she has been a given in the national team and won several medals during her years in blue and yellow, but also through the fine leadership and drive she has provided during all matches and training sessions. We thank Magdalena for her fine years in the national team and her contributions to Swedish football.”