Top Goal Scorers For Sweden Football Team All-Time: Sweden is a country in Scandinavia that loves ice hockey more than football, but it has a decent football history. They were the runners-up in the 1958 World Cup and got third place in three other World Cups.
Sweden is playing against Spain in a Euro Cup again. In 2008, they had a memorable match in the group stage, with Spain winning with a late goal from David Villa.
Besides that, Sweden won a gold medal in the 1948 Olympic Games in London, and their best achievement in the World Cup was being the runner-up.
Sweden has participated in eleven World Cups and five European Championships. They were also the first team to win 1,000 international matches. They even played during the World Wars when many other countries couldn’t.
Top Goal Scorers For Sweden Football Team All-Time
This article is about the top goal scorers in the history of the Sweden national football team.
1. Zlatan Ibrahimović
- Career Span: 2001–present
- Matches: 121
- Goals: 62
- Average: 0.51
Zlatan Ibrahimović is the top goal scorer for the Sweden national football team. He’s known for scoring incredible goals, including a back-heel goal against Italy in the 2004 Euro Cup and a stunning long-range bicycle kick against England in a friendly match, which won him the 2013 Puskas award. He scored 62 goals in 121 matches for the Swedish national team.
Ibrahimović is not just a goal scorer; he’s also known for his exceptional technical skills and determination. He was played for top clubs like Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, FC Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester United.
Despite his successful career, he hasn’t won a Champions League title. He’s a remarkable player who has left a lasting impact on the football world.
2. Sven Rydell
- Career Span: 1923–1932
- Matches: 43
- Goals: 49
- Average: 1.14
Sven Rydell is the second-highest goal scorer for the Sweden national football team. He played for Örgryte IS from 1924 to 1933, winning the Allsvenskan title in 1926 and 1928 (though the championship wasn’t officially recognized back then). Later, he played for Redbergslids IK and Holmens IS, scoring a total of 156 goals in the top Swedish league.
Rydell represented Sweden in 43 international games between 1923 and 1932, scoring 49 goals at an impressive average of 1.14 goals per game. He won a bronze medal at the 1924 Olympics, where he scored six goals, making him one of the tournament’s top scorers.
In recognition of his accomplishments, Rydell received the Svenska Dagbladet gold medal in 1931 and was inducted into the SFS Hall of Fame in 2003, honoring his significant contribution to Swedish football.
3. Gunnar Nordahl
- Career Span: 1942–1948
- Matches: 33
- Goals: 43
- Average: 1.3
Gunnar Nordahl is the third-highest goal scorer for the Sweden national football team. He made his debut for the Swedish national team in 1942 when he was just 21 years old. However, regular international matches were halted due to the Second World War, and it wasn’t until 1948, at the Olympic Games in London, that international football tournaments resumed.
Nordahl, along with his brothers Bertil and Knut, was part of the Swedish squad. Against the odds, they reached the final after impressive victories over teams like Austria and Denmark. In the final, they defeated Yugoslavia 3-1, with Nordahl scoring his seventh goal of the tournament. He was also the top scorer, and Sweden received the gold medals at Wembley Stadium.
In 1949, Nordahl became a professional player in Italy. However, due to the association’s policy of not nominating professionals, he was no longer allowed to play for Sweden.
4. Henrik Larsson
- Career Span: 1993–2009
- Matches: 106
- Goals: 37
- Average: 0.35
Henrik Larsson is the fourth-highest goal scorer for the Sweden national football team. He made his debut in 1993 and quickly showcased his talent. Larsson made a significant impact at the 1994 World Cup, contributing to Sweden’s third-place finish with crucial goals in the quarter-finals against Romania and the game for third place against Bulgaria. He scored a total of 24 goals in 73 international matches, including eight goals in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers and three more goals in the finals.
After initially retiring from the national team following the 2002 World Cup, Larsson returned in 2004 due to media pressure and a purported request from his son. He continued his success, scoring three goals in the 2004 European Championships and five more in the qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup. He played his final World Cup tournament in Germany, scoring a goal against England but also missing a penalty in the round of 16 against Germany, resulting in Sweden’s elimination.
Larsson retired once again after the 2006 World Cup but was persuaded to return for the 2008 European Championships. He reached his 100th international appearance in a World Cup qualifier against Albania on September 6. Following Freddie Ljungberg’s resignation, Larsson became the captain of the Swedish national team. His last game for Sweden was on October 10, 2009, in a 0-1 defeat against Denmark in a World Cup qualifier.
5. Gunnar Gren
- Career Span: 1940–1958
- Matches: 57
- Goals: 32
- Average: 0.56
Gunnar Gren is the fifth-highest goal scorer for the Sweden national football team. He began his career at the small club Gårda and made his international debut for Sweden at 19. In 1941, he joined IFK Göteborg, winning the Swedish championship in 1942. His first major success came in 1948 when Sweden won the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in London. Gren scored two goals in the final against Yugoslavia, helping Sweden secure the victory.
In 1949, Gren moved to Italy and joined AC Milan along with his national teammates Nils Liedholm and Gunnar Nordahl. Together, they formed the famous Gre-No-Li trio and became superstars at Milan. Gren later played for Fiorentina and CFC Genoa before returning to Sweden in 1956.
Gren, despite his professional career in Italy, couldn’t participate in the 1950 World Cup due to Sweden’s policy of allowing only amateurs in the national team. However, in the 1958 World Cup held in Sweden, he played a crucial role. In the semi-final against Germany, he scored a goal in the 2-1 victory, leading Sweden to the final where they finished as runners-up.
After retiring as a player, Gren became a coach in Sweden and later worked as a technical director for Juventus Turin in the 1960s. He eventually retired from football in 1970 and stepped into private life.
6. Kennet Andersson
- Career Span: 1990–2000
- Matches: 83
- Goals: 31
- Average: 0.37
Kennet Andersson is the sixth-highest goal scorer for the Sweden national football team. He earned 83 caps and scored 31 goals for Sweden, placing him near the top in national history. Andersson played in the 1992 and 2000 European Championships.
His notable achievement came in the 1994 World Cup, where he led the Swedish team in scoring with five goals. This feat tied him for third place as the tournament’s leading goal scorer.
Andersson’s physical size and aerial ability made him a formidable presence on the field. He was particularly known for towering over defenders and even goalkeepers, scoring crucial goals with his head. In the quarter-final match against Romania, he outjumped everyone, including the Romanian goalkeeper, to head in a vital goal, helping Sweden secure the win. His prowess in the air made him a key player for the Swedish team during his international career.
7. Marcus Allbäck
- Career Span: 1999–2008
- Matches: 74
- Goals: 30
- Average: 0.41
Marcus Allbäck is the seventh-highest goal scorer for the Sweden national football team. He started his football journey at Örgryte IS in his hometown of Gothenburg. His father, Stefan, was also a player there and later became the club’s manager. Allbäck played professionally for Lyngby FC and AS Bari before returning to Örgryte IS, where he excelled.
In 2000, he received his first call-up to the Swedish national team. His breakthrough came in 2001 when he scored crucial goals against Moldova, securing vital points for Sweden in World Cup qualification. He continued his success by scoring twice in the following game against Slovakia, establishing himself as a regular player.
During the 2002 World Cup, Allbäck played a significant role in the Swedish team’s attack alongside Henrik Larsson. He later moved to Dutch club SC Heerenveen for the 2001/2002 season. After a season, he joined Aston Villa, but his playing time decreased, and he lost his regular place in the national team to Zlatan Ibrahimović. He then moved to Hansa Rostock in 2004 but left after one season following the club’s relegation from the Bundesliga. Allbäck continued his career at FC Copenhagen, showcasing his talent in different leagues.
8. Martin Dahlin
- Career Span: 1991–1997
- Matches: 60
- Goals: 29
- Average: 0.48
Martin Dahlin, ranked 8th among the top goal scorers for the Sweden national football team, played a significant role during the 1994 World Cup where Sweden secured a third-place finish. Dahlin scored four goals in that tournament. He also contributed to Sweden’s success in the 1992 European Championships, where they reached the semi-finals, and participated in the 1988 Olympic Games with the Swedish team.
In 1993, he was recognized as the Swedish Player of the Year. Throughout his career, he played for various clubs, including Malmö FF, Borussia Mönchengladbach, AS Roma, Blackburn Rovers, and Hamburger SV.
Dahlin’s physical resemblance to American football player O.J. Simpson led to his nickname “OJ” during the World Cup in the USA, adding a unique and memorable aspect to his football career.
9. Tomas Brolin
- Career Span: 1990–1995
- Matches: 47
- Goals: 27
- Average: 0.57
Tomas Brolin, ranked 9th among the top goal scorers for the Sweden national football team, made his debut in 1990 against Wales, where he scored two goals in a 4-2 victory. He played as the youngest member of the team in the 1990 World Cup, scoring his first World Cup goal against Brazil. In Euro 1992, he played a crucial role, helping Sweden defeat Denmark, France, and England in the preliminary round. He scored the match-winning goal against Denmark in the 1-0 victory.
In the 1994 World Cup, despite low expectations, Sweden, led by players like Brolin, made it to the semi-finals, where they faced Brazil. Brolin contributed significantly, scoring three goals in seven games during the tournament. Sweden lost to Brazil in the semi-finals but bounced back in the third-place match against Bulgaria, winning 4-0. Brolin scored the opening goal.
However, Brolin’s career suffered a setback due to a foot injury during a qualifying game in 1994. Although he made a brief comeback in 1995, his national team career ended in 1996 when he was not considered due to his fitness. With a total of 26 goals, he remains one of Sweden’s top goal-scorers.
10. Agne Simonsson
- Career Span: 1957–1967
- Matches: 51
- Goals: 27
- Average: 0.53
Agne Simonsson, ranked 10th among the top goal scorers for the Sweden national football team, made his debut in 1957. In his first international match against Norway, he scored two goals, establishing himself in the national team alongside notable players like Gösta Sandberg, Gunnar Gren, and Jan Ekström. He played a key role in Sweden’s 1958 World Cup campaign, featuring in five out of six tournament games. In the final against Brazil, he scored his fourth goal of the tournament, making the score 2-4 in a 2-5 defeat.
Simonsson continued his success in club football as well. He helped Örgryte IS secure promotion to the first division with two wins against Landskrona BoIS. In the 1959 first division season, he scored eleven goals, leading his team to a commendable fourth-place finish alongside center forward Rune Börjesson, who was the top scorer.
Simonsson also made a mark on the international stage by scoring two goals in Sweden’s 3-2 away win against the English national team at Wembley Stadium and assisting in the third goal scored by Bengt Salomonsson. His outstanding performances earned him the Guldbollen award as Sweden’s Footballer of the Year at the end of the year.
