Zlatan Ibrahimović has reached out to offer comfort and encouragement to Smilla Holmberg following her heartbreaking penalty miss in Sweden’s Euro 2025 quarter-final defeat to England.
Ibrahimović’s Message: Strength Born of Shared Experience
According to Holmberg’s father, Ola Persson, the Swedish football icon and co-owner of Hammarby—Holmberg’s club—sent a private text early Friday morning. He told the 18-year-old:
- “You’re grym (awesome),”
- “You need to take the next penalty, and the next,
- “Believe in yourself—that’s what matters.”
Ibrahimović reminded Holmberg that even he—early in his career—had missed a crucial spot-kick at Euro 2004. His message underlined that true greatness is shaped by resilience in adversity, not by flawless execution.
A Support Network Embraces Holmberg
Holmberg was visibly devastated after sending her miss over the bar—her tears telling of the weight of the moment in a shoot-out that extended to 14 spot-kicks. But alongside Ibrahimović’s message, she received an outpouring of support from:
- Her teammates
- Swedish media commentators
- Coaching staff
- Hammarby officials
- Her father, who described her as “strong” and grateful for the collective backing.
Sweden’s coach, Peter Gerhardsson, defended the decision to have Holmberg take a penalty, noting that the entire team shared both the responsibility and the disappointment.
Why It Matters
- Mentorship from Experience: Ibrahimović’s own journey—having missed that infamous 2004 penalty—adds deep resonance to his words. His message reinforces that failure at key moments doesn’t define a career.
- Boosting Confidence: As a teenage player contending with immense pressure, knowing that a global icon believes in her next step is both validating and inspiring.
- Cultural Shift: The gesture signifies a broader movement within Swedish football culture—emphasizing emotional support, collective responsibility, and learning over blame.
What Lies Ahead
With Euro 2025 behind her, Holmberg will likely return to club duties at Hammarby with newfound perspective. As Ibrahimović wrote: the true measure of a player is how they stand back up, take “the next penalty,” and continue to believe. For an 18-year-old on the cusp of her career, that message might be the most important kick she ever takes.
