The Greatest Athletes to Represent Sweden

by Luke Andrews, 13 September 2023

With a mere 10.5 million residents, Sweden might not strike you as a hotbed for top-tier athletes, yet it’s been a breeding ground for some of the most celebrated names in sports history. This article offers a deep dive into Sweden’s prowess across ice hockey, football, tennis, boxing, mixed martial arts, and golf. Spotlighting the extraordinary feats and lasting impacts of iconic athletes such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Björn Borg, and Ingemar Johansson. Our sports betting expert, Luke Andrews, invites you to join him in exploring these Swedish sports legends’ remarkable accomplishments and enduring legacies.

Sweden has produced some of the greatest athletes in sports that have impacted their specific disciplines and inspired entire generations. In the article, we highlight Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s impact on the footballing World, Bjorn Borg’s legendary input on the tennis court, Ingemar Johansson’s punches in the boxing ring, Alexander Gustafsson milestone in the Octagon, Börje Salming, the hockey defending legend and Annika Sörenstam the female golfing icon.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic – The Football Legend

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a retired Swedish legend footballer who played as a striker. He is regarded as one of the greatest attackers of his generation, pasting his accolade with thirty-four trophies and scoring five hundred and seventy goals in his professional career, which made him a popular bet at the best betting sites in Sweden. Many football fans saw good returns at the Swedish betting sites on our site as they backed the footballer to score a goal or two.

Renowned for his supreme confidence, or as some would say ego, Ibra nicknamed himself ‘god’. Despite his huge physique boasting a height of 6ft 39″ (1.95 metres), the attacker has iconic acrobatic skills, volleys and excellent ball control in his playing days.

He kicked off his professional journey at Malmo FF before transferring to Ajax, where he unveiled his latent prowess and became the most sought-after forward in European football. He inked a deal with Italian behemoths Juventus, subsequently switching allegiances to their storied adversaries Inter Milan, where he clinched a trio of back-to-back Serie A crowns.

Barcelona shattered the global record for priciest acquisitions to secure Ibra’s talents at Camp Nou, yet he spent a solitary season in Spain before retracing his steps to Italy to align with AC Milan. He seized the Serie A championship in his inaugural campaign with the Rossoneri before setting sail for France to enlist with Paris Saint-Germain.

At PSG, a move orchestrated by the club’s new Qatari proprietors who had injected massive capital to revamp the squad, Ibrahimovic emerged as their most valuable asset. He repaid their faith by delivering the club’s first Ligue 1 title in nearly two decades, cementing their status as the preeminent force in French football—a mantle they’ve maintained since his arrival. During his four-season tenure in Paris, he clinched the league title each year he participated and set a then-record as the team’s all-time leading scorer with 156 goals. However, his tally has since been eclipsed by Kylian Mbappe (215) and Edinson Cavani (200).

Zlatan orchestrated a reunion with Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, rekindling a partnership that had previously flourished during a one-year stint at Inter Milan. He secured his inaugural European trophy in the English Premier League, adding the Europa League title to his already illustrious résumé.

Ibra then crossed the Atlantic to the United States, where he electrified the MLS both on the field and in the media spotlight during his two-year spell with LA Galaxy.

Different year, same place pic.twitter.com/ims69XGwVe

— Zlatan Ibrahimović (@Ibra_official) August 5, 2023

In a final audacious move, he re-entered the competitive fray by rejoining Serie A’s AC Milan, where he clinched both his second and fifth Italian league titles.

He amassed over a hundred caps for his national side, joining an elite cadre of ten other Swedish players to achieve this milestone. Spanning more than two decades with the national team, he netted sixty-two goals, ascending to the pinnacle as Sweden’s all-time leading scorer. He graced the Euro stage on four occasions (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016) and represented his country in two World Cups (2002, 2006). Ibra holds the unparalleled distinction of being the most decorated recipient of the Swedish Player of the Year award, known as the Guldbollen, clinching it an astonishing twelve times—ten of which were consecutive triumphs from 2007 to 2016.

His highest accolade in the FIFA Ballon d’Or came in 2013 when he secured the fourth spot. Yet, he’s widely considered the third-greatest talent of the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo epoch. While his persona may not be universally embraced, owing to his penchant for provocative remarks and audacious displays, these traits serve to underscore his undeniable greatness.

The 2013 FIFA Puskas Award for the best goal was Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s bicycle kick goal for his nation against England.

Björn Borg – The Tennis Maestro

Bjorn Borg stands as a titan in the realm of tennis. He is universally acclaimed as Sweden’s premier athlete, even eclipsing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, in many people’s eyes. The former world number one shattered records by becoming the inaugural athlete to secure eleven Grand Slam singles titles, comprising six French Open and five consecutive Wimbledon championships.

The Swedish virtuoso boasts an unblemished 6-0 record in French Open finals, a feat that saw him capture four consecutive titles from 1978 to 1981. He etched his name into the annals of history as the first tennis player to advance to six successive Wimbledon finals—a remarkable achievement that was eventually surpassed by Roger Federer, who reached an unprecedented seven consecutive finals from 2003 to 2009.

Borg won the Channel Slam three times, contesting the US Open, Wimbledon, and French Open finals in the same year in 1978, 1980, and 1981. Despite his lucrative career, he never won the US Open but made up for winning three majors without losing a single set in the tournament.

He won sixteen Grand Prix Super Series titles and three year-end Championships. An absolute legend of the game, he was named ATP Player of the Year from 1976 to 1980 and ended the year ranked number one in the ATP ranking in 1979 and 1980, as well as ITF World Champion from 1978 to 1980.

Can't wait! #ComingSoon #BORGtheMovie (Thanks @Carlitostennis for the 📷) pic.twitter.com/gwWTxAWUjT

— Björn Borg (@bjornborg) January 4, 2017

With all this greatness, it’s sad that the maestro retired from tennis at the tender age of just twenty-five, taking a bow from the limelight to live a ‘normal life’. He tried to make a comeback in 1991 but was washed out by then and not athletic enough to reach the court, making the attempt brief and unsuccessful. Despite that, he is regarded as one of the all-time greatest tennis players, with many thoughts left to contemplate what could have happened or how many of his records could still be standing if he kept playing.

The Tennis magazine ranks him as the sixth greatest tennis player of the Open Era, with his rivalry with John McEnroe regarded as one of the best in sports history and his match in the 1980 Wimbledon final regarded as one the finest tennis final games.

He was among the leading stars that helped the development of tennis as a game and as a popular sport in the World in the 70’s. The landmark achievements made him the first player to take home over a million US dollars in a single season.

Ingemar Johansson – The Boxing Icon

Born in 1932 and passing away in 2009, Jens Ingemar Johansson was a boxing luminary whose impact on the sport remains indelible. Even as an amateur, Johansson displayed extraordinary talent, clinching a silver medal in the heavyweight division at the 1952 Summer Olympics. His professional career spanned a remarkable 11 years, from 1952 to 1963, during which he etched his name into boxing history.

Johansson’s crowning achievement came when he reigned as the World Heavyweight Champion from 1959 to 1960. Notably, he was only the fifth boxer from outside the United States to claim this prestigious title. His accomplishments in the ring have solidified his legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats.

Johansson’s accolades didn’t stop at the global level; he also dominated the European circuit, securing the European Heavyweight Championship twice—from 1956 to 1958 and then from 1962 to 1963. His exceptional performances didn’t go unnoticed; he was honoured with the Hickok Belt, an award given to the year’s top professional athlete. Johansson remains the only non-American to receive this prestigious award in its 27-year history.

Further cementing his legacy, he was named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year and the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year. These honours underscore his athletic prowess and his unparalleled impact on the sport of boxing.

'People with strong humanitarian feelings often lack knowledge and clear-sightedness to see through the outer brutality of boxing and to see it for what it really is – an image of our existence.'

– Ingemar Johansson#boxing pic.twitter.com/mVZqZ12xlP

— The Loneliest Sport (@LoneliestSport) January 17, 2023

Johansson has a solid right fist that produced concussive power and had numerous names, ‘ toonder and lightning’, ‘ingo bingo’, and ‘the Hammer of Thor’. It is an expressive gesture for an arm ranked ninety-nine in 2003 on the Ring Magazine list of the 100 greatest punchers ever.

The most iconic moment of his career was a title fight against Floyd Patterson for the world heavyweight title. The boxer sent Patterson to the canvas seven times in the third round for the match to be eventually stopped in favour of the Swedish legend. Johansson earned his chance to the title when he knocked down Eddie Machen three times, the top-ranked contender to the crown.

The Swede entered Yankee Stadium as a 5-to-1 underdog, staying defensive for the initial two rounds. In the pivotal third round, he seized an opportunity when Patterson failed to capitalise on a block, delivering a swift, potent right hand that knocked him down. Patterson managed to stand but was clearly wobbly, and Johansson capitalised fully, denying his opponent any chance to recover and knocking him down six additional times in that same round before the referee halted the fight. They faced off again in a rematch in June 1960; on this occasion, Patterson emerged victorious, reclaiming his title. A third bout followed, which Patterson also won, concluding an exhilarating trilogy for boxing enthusiasts.

Alexander Gustafsson – The MMA Warrior

Alexander Gustafsson is a Swedish professional mixed martial athlete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the light heavyweight division. He focused a more significant chunk of his MMA career on the Light Heavyweight division, rising to the top and competing in three title bouts. The maestro, however, never had a lack in the title matches and ended up losing all three to be regarded as the best MMA athlete who never won the UFC Championship.

Gustafsson debuted in the UFC in November 2009 against Jared Hamman, winning in forty-one seconds in the first round. He competed in twenty-six matches, winning eighteen games (eleven by knockouts, three by submission, four by decision) and losing eight (three b by knockouts, three by submission, two by decision).

The September 2013 title shot for the UFC Light Heavyweight title against the reigning Champion at the time, Jon Jones, was one of the most iconic fights of his career. He went to the fight as the underdog, but when the match started, he challenged the Champion than any other opponent he had ever faced, taking him down for the first time in his career and cutting him above the right eye. He, however, lost by unanimous decision as the Champion landed more strikes 137 – 114 to defend his title, which narrowly acknowledged that he had fought the most brutal fight of his career that earned ‘fight of the night’ bonuses for the performance. World MMA Awards ranked the match was named 2013 Fight of the Year, with the Swedish athlete winning 2013 International Fighter of the Year. In March 2020, the fight was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s Fight Wing.

Börje Salming – The Ice Hockey Pioneer

Swedish Ice Hockey pioneer who played in defence, managing to play twenty-three professional seasons. She played for AIK, Detroit Red Wings, Brynas IF and the Toronto Maple Leafs. His most impressive spell was with the Toronto Maples Leafs, where he spent sixteen seasons recognising his contribution to the team by retiring his number twenty-one in 2016. He has the record for the most assists for the team and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996, becoming the first European player to achieve this fate.

He was one of the pioneer European players to significantly impact the National Hockey League (NHL), with his achievements recognised by being on the NHL All-Star Teams for six consecutive times. Salming won the all-star games three times (1976, 1977, 1978) and was named the one hundred Greatest Players of the league’s first century.

Salming represented Sweden in the Ice Hockey World Championships, winning silver and bronze. The maestro featured in the 1992 Winter Olympics and three Canada Cups. His legendary achievements made him inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1998 and named to the IIHF Centennial All-Star Team in 2008.

Salming NHL Honours;

• Named to the All-Star Team at the World Ice Hockey Championships in 1973
• Named to the Swedish All-Star Team in 1973 and 1989
• Named to the NHL First All-Star Team in 1977
• Named to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979 and 1980
• Named to the Canada Cup All-Star Team in 1976
• Named to the IIHF Centennial All-Star Team in 2008
• Named to the Swedish All-Star Team of the Century in 2022
• Awarded the Viking Award (Best Swede in North America) in 1976, 1977 and 1979
• Awarded the Molson Cup (Most 3 Star Selections) in 1974, 1977, 1978 and 1980
• Awarded the Charlie Conacher Humanitarian Award in 1982
• Awarded the NHL Honorary Award in 2022
• Played in and won the NHL All-Star Games of 1976, 1977 and 1978
• Played for Team NHL in the 1979 Challenge Cup
• Inducted into to the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1998
• Number (21) Retired by the Toronto Maple Leafs
• ‘100 Greatest Players’ in NHL history
• Swedish Ice Hockey Association All-Century Team

After such an impressive career, Salming was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in July 2022 and passed on in November of the same year, aged seventy-one.

Annika Sörenstam – The Golf Trailblazer

The list wouldn’t have been complete if we didn’t highlight a pioneering woman. In the world of golfing, Sweden discovered a gem in Annika Charlotta Sorenstam, before bowing out from the scene in 2008.

She triumphed in ninety international tournaments, making her the female golfer with the most wins. Sorenstam won seventy-two LPGA tournaments (ten majors and twenty-four internationally). She was so talented that after hanging up, she returned from retirement to add one more win in the 2021 US Senior Women’s Open.

She won at least one of the four recognised major Championships at the peak of her career, including a grand slam. Her impressive career earned her vast payouts, and by the end of 2022, she was ranked at the summit of the LPGA’s career money list despite retiring in 2008.

The Swedish is the winner of a record eight Player of the Year awards and six Vare Trophies, and she is the only female golfer to shoot a fifty-nine in a competition. With all her success, she is the bearer of numerous records, including the lowest season she attained in 2004, managing an average of 68.6969.

Annika represented Europe in the Solheim Cup in eight consecutive events between 1994 and 2007. In her time at the Solheim Cup, she became the all-time leading point earner until the 2011 Solheim Cup when Laura Davies broke her record. Another landmark achievement for the athlete was her honour in captaining the 2017 European Solheim Cup team. Her involvement in the 2003 Bank of America Colonial tournament meant she was the first woman to compete in the PGA Tour for the first time since 1945.

YESTERDAY: President Trump played golf with Sen. Lindsey Graham and professional golfers Gary Player and Annika Sörenstam at Trump National Golf Club. pic.twitter.com/4Jy7Fo6Ex1

— The Hill (@thehill) September 29, 2019

One of her precious accolades was US President Donald Trump’s Presidential Medal of Freedom in January 2021. She was inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame through points criteria and the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003.

Annika was made the vice president of the Association of Golf Writers in 2022.