Pernille Harder deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as legends like Marta, Alex Morgan, and Abby Wambach. In her native Denmark and at every club she’s graced with her presence, the word ‘legend’ feels almost inadequate to capture her impact and greatness.
Most recently, Pernille penned a heartfelt piece for The Guardian, detailing her return to FC Midtjylland to mentor a group of 80 girls in the Danish sides’ academy between the ages of eight to thirteen.
The former player at the Midtjylland academy herself, declared:
“I am delighted to be the role model that I never had.”
On the eve of her fifth European Championship, Pernille Harder’s decision to dedicate time to mentoring the next generation speaks volumes. Even at the pinnacle of her career, she remains a true inspiration – leading with humility, passion, and purpose.
For Pernille Harder, football growing up was worlds apart from what young players experience today. She was forced to cut her time short at her childhood club, Danish giants, who, at the time, didn’t even have a women’s team. With no pathway to senior women’s football, she left in her teens in search of opportunity, beginning her journey with Ikast’s academy and later launching her senior career at Team Viborg. It was a bold move that would set the stage for one of the game’s most remarkable careers.
Pernille Harder’s senior career has been nothing short of extraordinary, marked by a relentless streak of silverware. Remarkably, from 2015 to 2025, every club she played for won their domestic league during her time there. It began with Linköping in 2015, followed by four titles with VfL Wolfsburg, three more with Chelsea in England, and – since her return to Germany in 2023 – two Bundesliga crowns with Bayern Munich. Her presence hasn’t just elevated teams; it’s defined an era of dominance wherever she’s gone.
On the international stage, the eight-time Danish Footballer of the Year sits fourth on the all-time appearance list for Denmark’s women’s national team – an incredible feat. Remarkably, she is one of three players from the current squad who occupy spots in the nation’s top four, highlighting a golden generation in Danish women’s football.
Pernille Harder stands head and shoulders above the rest as the all-time top scorer for Denmark’s women’s national team, with an astonishing 78 goals in 162 appearances wearing the iconic red jersey. Even more impressively, she enters this tournament off the back of her most prolific club season in six years – a remarkable testament to her enduring class and form.
Pernille Harder has found the net in virtually every major international tournament she’s played in, but her legacy stretches far beyond the pitch. Her relationship with fellow footballer Magdalena Eriksson has become a symbol of visibility and pride for the LGBTQ+ community, while the couple’s advocacy for Common Goal – donating 1% of their salaries to support social change through football – reflects a deep commitment to making a difference. Add to that her academic achievement as a master’s graduate in Business Administration, and it’s clear Harder is a role model in every sense.
Now, at 32, playing in her fifth European Championship, there’s every chance this could be her final international tournament. But whatever comes next, one thing is certain: Pernille Harder will leave the stage with her head held high, having led her country with distinction and inspired a new generation of Danish fans and future footballers.
