It was only a few months ago that many of us were sitting tensely, watching Sweden and England deliver one of the most nail-biting and spectacular penalty shootouts of the tournament.
Now, defender Magdalena Eriksson – one of Sweden’s penalty takers selected to try her luck against England’s Hannah Hampton – has announced her retirement from the international stage.
A key player for Frauen-Bundesliga side Bayern Munich and a mainstay for her national team, Eriksson was recently forced to sit out of Sweden’s two-leg Nations League semi final against Spain after suffering a head injury. This setback appears to have influenced her decision to retire, as she cited health as a main priority.
Eriksson stated:
“It’s a decision I’ve thought about for a very long time 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 prioritise it. It’s really a decision I wish I didn’t have to make,” she went on to say, “but because of how my body is feeling these days, it’s a decision I feel I have to make.”
Eriksson’s international career has been nothing short of eventful. Sweden have reached the semi-finals five times over the past seven Women’s European Championships, and at the 2025 Women’s Euros, they missed out on the final, falling to England, who went on to be crowned champions.
The Swedish defender has represented her nation at seven major tournaments and is a two-time Olympic silver medallist, as well as a two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup third place finisher. Since making her senior national debut aged 21 against France in 2014, Eriksson has earned 123 caps and scored 14 goals.
In a statement, Eriksson reflected on her time on the national team with pride and positivity:
“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.”
Known for her stalwart defending, calm leadership, and unshakeable composure, the passion with which Eriksson has always played when representing the Blågult should more than solidify her as a legend in Swedish football history.
On the Swedish national women’s team’s Instagram, a tribute video was posted that highlighted her contributions – goals, penalties, tackles, celebrations, that spanned her time on the team. Fans, coaches, and teammates filled the comments with admiration and gratitude.
Swedish defender Hanna Lundkvist wrote that she:
“Learned from the best what it means to represent our country.”
Sweden’s head coach, Tony Gustavsson said of Eriksson’s decision:
“It is heavy news.”
He also named her as:
“One of our most important players for a long time.”
Eriksson’s club career has also been rich with success. Born in Stockholm, she began at her hometown club Enskede IK, before later moving to Hammarby IF. After making her debut in the Damallsvenskan, she went on to move to Djugården IF and later to Linköpings FC in 2013. During her time in Sweden, Eriksson won two cup titles and one league title.
In 2017, she made the move to London to join Chelsea, marking the beginning of another era of her career sprinkled with success, Eriksson won the league and cup double in her debut season, and earned the captain’s armband for the 2019/20 season. While playing as a Blue, Eriksson won four WSL trophies, two League Cups, and four FA Cups.
Eriksson’s football journey has been one of both professional and personal triumph. After her time at Chelsea came to a close, she transferred to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, alongside her partner, Pernille Harder. The pair met in 2014 while playing for Linköpings FC, reunited at Chelsea, and became engaged in 2024.
With a star-studded international and club career, Eriksson’s reputation as a legend of Swedish football – and the women’s game on a whole – is indisputably well-earned. While she will be missed on the international stage, her focus shifts to her club career and chases one of the few titles she has yet to clinch – the Champions League.
