Swedish Football Talents Felicia Schröder and Smilla Holmberg Nominated for 2025 Golden Girl Award
Felicia Schröder and Smilla Holmberg make history as the first Swedish women nominated for the 2025 Golden Girl award recognizing Europe's top female football talent under 21.
- • Felicia Schröder and Smilla Holmberg are nominated for the 2025 Golden Girl award.
- • They are the first Swedish women to receive a nomination for this prestigious award.
- • Both players were recently called up to the national team by coach Tony Gustavsson.
- • Holmberg had a notable EM tournament despite missing a crucial penalty against England.
Key details
Two of Sweden's brightest young female football talents, Felicia Schröder and Smilla Holmberg, have been nominated for the prestigious 2025 Golden Girl award, recognizing the best European female player under 21. This marks a historic moment as they are the first Swedish women ever nominated for this accolade presented by the Italian publication Tuttosport. Both Schröder, 18, who plays for BK Häcken, and Holmberg, 19, recently earned call-ups to the national team by coach Tony Gustavsson, highlighting their rising profiles in Swedish football.
Although Schröder was not part of the summer's European Championship (EM) squad, she has continued her impressive development. Holmberg, unexpectedly included in the EM squad, delivered a series of strong performances, notably remembered for her emotional reaction after missing a crucial penalty in the quarterfinals against England.
Other notable nominees include England's Michelle Agyemang, who also shone at the EM. A win by either Schröder or Holmberg would set a landmark for Swedish women’s football, as Sweden has never had a Golden Girl winner before. Their nominations reflect the promising future of Swedish football on the European stage, underscoring their talent and impact.
With their recent national team inclusion and this international recognition, Schröder and Holmberg exemplify the next generation of Swedish talents poised to make a global mark in women's football.