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Viktor Claesson
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Viktor Johan Anton Claesson (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈvɪ̌kːtɔr ˈklɑ̌ːsɔn]; born 2 January 1992) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Danish Superliga club Copenhagen, which he captains. He is known for his passing and set piece abilities.[2][3]
Key Information
A full international between 2012 and 2023, Claesson won 74 caps and scored 15 goals for the Sweden national team. He represented his country at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2020.
Club career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Claesson started his career with local club IFK Värnamo. After progressing through the youth ranks, he made his senior debut in 2009 in a Division 1 Södra match. After a breakthrough campaign during the 2011 Superettan season, Claesson join IF Elfsborg in the Allsvenskan, the top division of Swedish football.
Krasnodar
[edit]On 25 January 2017, Claesson signed a 3.5-year contract with Russian Premier League team FC Krasnodar.[4] He scored on his debut on 16 February 2017 in a 1–0 Europa League Round of 32 win against Turkish Süper Lig side Fenerbahçe, scoring a header on his first touch in any competitive Krasnodar game in the 4th minute. He was selected by UEFA as "Man of the Match".[5] He continued his form with two goals in a Russian Cup game against FC Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast on 28 February 2017[6] and a goal against Celta de Vigo in the first leg of Europa League Round of 16 on 9 March 2017.[7]
Claesson missed all of the 2019–20 season with a serious knee injury.[8]
2020–21 season
[edit]Out of action for over 14 months, Claesson returned from injury on 18 August 2020, playing the last 15 minutes of Krasnodar's 2–0 home win over Arsenal Tula in the Russian Premier League.[8] On 18 September, he scored his first two goals since his return from injury in a 7–2 thrashing of Khimki.[9] Four days later, Claesson scored from the penalty spot in the club's first-leg play-off round match against PAOK for qualification to the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.[10] Krasnodar would win the second leg against PAOK by the same scoreline and secure progression to the group stage of the Champions League for the first time in the club's history.[11]
2021–22 season
[edit]On 3 March 2022 Krasnodar announced that his contract was suspended and he would not train with the team, but the contract was not terminated and remained valid.[12] On 5 March 2022, his contract was terminated and he was released from the club.[13]
Copenhagen
[edit]On 30 March 2022, Claesson signed with Copenhagen in Denmark until the end of the season.[14] On 3 April, he scored the winning goal in his debut match for the club after coming on as a substitute in the 61st minute.
On 16 June 2022, Claesson signed an extension with Copenhagen until 2026.[15]
International career
[edit]In May 2018, Claesson was named in Sweden's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[16] He was one of Sweden's main men for the duration of the tournament, in which the Blågult reached the quarterfinals.
In a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier against Spain on 10 June 2019, Claesson suffered a serious knee injury, rupturing the cruciate knee ligaments, after a clash with Jordi Alba.[8]
He was named in Sweden's UEFA Euro 2020 squad, and appeared in all four games as Sweden was eliminated in the round of 16 by Ukraine.[17] He scored the winning goal in a 3–2 win against Poland in the group stage.[17] On 19 November 2023, Claesson registered one goal and one assist against Estonia in their 2–0 win in their European Qualifiers game.
In October 2025, he announced his retirement from the national team. He was capped 74 times and scored 15 goals.[18]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]- As of match played 9 November 2025[19]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| IFK Värnamo | 2009 | Division 1 Södra | 16 | 5 | — | — | — | 16 | 5 | |||
| 2010 | Division 1 Södra | 25 | 11 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 28 | 11 | ||
| 2011 | Superettan | 29 | 13 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 13 | |||
| Total | 70 | 29 | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 74 | 29 | |||
| IF Elfsborg | 2012 | Allsvenskan | 27 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6[b] | 2 | — | 33 | 7 | |
| 2013 | Allsvenskan | 23 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 8[c] | 3 | — | 34 | 6 | ||
| 2014 | Allsvenskan | 26 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 6[b] | 0 | — | 39 | 7 | ||
| 2015 | Allsvenskan | 29 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 6[b] | 1 | — | 40 | 15 | ||
| 2016 | Allsvenskan | 29 | 8 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 32 | 10 | |||
| Total | 134 | 32 | 18 | 7 | 26 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 178 | 45 | ||
| Krasnodar | 2016–17 | Russian Premier League | 13 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4[b] | 2 | – | 18 | 5 | |
| 2017–18 | Russian Premier League | 30 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 4[b] | 2 | — | 34 | 12 | ||
| 2018–19 | Russian Premier League | 29 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 9[b] | 2 | — | 42 | 15 | ||
| 2019–20 | Russian Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | Russian Premier League | 24 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 8[d] | 2 | — | 33 | 8 | ||
| 2021–22 | Russian Premier League | 18 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 3 | |||
| Total | 114 | 32 | 8 | 3 | 25 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 147 | 43 | ||
| Copenhagen | 2021–22 | Danish Superliga | 10 | 1 | — | — | — | 10 | 1 | |||
| 2022–23 | Danish Superliga | 30 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 8[e] | 1 | — | 45 | 17 | ||
| 2023–24 | Danish Superliga | 26 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 11[e] | 2 | — | 41 | 7 | ||
| 2024–25 | Danish Superliga | 28 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 11[f] | 1 | — | 45 | 8 | ||
| 2025–26 | Danish Superliga | 14 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9[e] | 0 | — | 24 | 4 | ||
| Total | 108 | 28 | 18 | 5 | 39 | 4 | — | 165 | 37 | |||
| Career total | 426 | 121 | 46 | 15 | 90 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 564 | 154 | ||
- ^ Includes Svenska Cupen, Russian Cup, Danish Cup
- ^ a b c d e f Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ^ Two appearances and two goals in UEFA Champions League, six appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
- ^ Six appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, two appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
- ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Conference League

International
[edit]- As of match played 19 November 2023[20]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 2012 | 2 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 12 | 2 | |
| 2018 | 14 | 1 | |
| 2019 | 4 | 3 | |
| 2020 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2021 | 15 | 3 | |
| 2022 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 9 | 2 | |
| Total | 74 | 15 | |
- As of match played 19 November 2023[21]
- Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Claesson goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 January 2012 | Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar | 2–0 | 5–0 | Friendly | [22] | |
| 2 | 28 March 2017 | Estádio do Marítimo, Funchal, Portugal | 1–2 | 3–2 | Friendly | [23] | |
| 3 | 2–2 | ||||||
| 4 | 10 September 2018 | Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden | 2–0 | 2–3 | 2018–19 UEFA Nations League B | [24] | |
| 5 | 23 March 2019 | Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden | 2–0 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying | [25] | |
| 6 | 26 March 2019 | Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway | 1–2 | 3–3 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying | [26] | |
| 7 | 7 June 2019 | Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden | 2–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying | [27] | |
| 8 | 17 November 2020 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France | 1–0 | 2–4 | 2020–21 UEFA Nations League A | [28] | |
| 9 | 25 March 2021 | Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | [29] | |
| 10 | 23 June 2021 | Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia | 3–2 | 3–2 | UEFA Euro 2020 | [30] | |
| 11 | 2 September 2021 | Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | [31] | |
| 12 | 24 September 2022 | Rajko Mitić Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia | 1–0 | 1–4 | 2022–23 UEFA Nations League B | [32] | |
| 13 | 19 November 2022 | Stadion, Malmö, Malmö, Sweden | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly | [33] | |
| 14 | 9 September 2023 | Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia | 5–0 | 5–0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying | [34] | |
| 15 | 19 November 2023 | Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden | 1–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying | [35] |
Honours
[edit]Elfsborg
Copenhagen
Sweden
Individual
- Allsvenskan top assist provider: 2015
- Swedish Midfielder of the Year: 2018
- Stor Grabb: 2018[40]
- Russian Premier League Left Winger of the Season: 2018–19[41]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 4 June 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- ^ "Viktor Claesson". Svenskfotboll.se. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
- ^ "Elfsborg.se". Elfsborg.se. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
- ^ "Краснодар укрепил рядыВиктором Клаэссоном". fckrasnodar.ru (in Russian). FC Krasnodar. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
- ^ "Krasnodar-Fenerbahce game report". UEFA. 16 February 2017.
- ^ "Ural-Krasnodar game report" (in Russian). Russian Premier League. 28 February 2017. Archived from the original on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
- ^ "Celta-Krasnodar game report". UEFA. 9 March 2017.
- ^ a b c ""It's like learning to walk again." Viktor Claesson returns after a year on the sidelines". Premier Liga. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ^ "Krasnodar thrash Khimki in a goal frenzy". Dugout. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Krasnodar 2–1 PAOK: Cabella edges hosts in front". UEFA. 22 September 2020.
- ^ "Krasnodar, Midtjylland, Salzburg advance to Champions League". Washington Post. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ ""КРАСНОДАР" ПРИОСТАНОВИЛ КОНТРАКТЫ С НЕСКОЛЬКИМИ ИГРОКАМИ" (Press release) (in Russian). FC Krasnodar. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ ""Краснодар" расторг контракт с Виктором Классоном. Официальный сайт ФК "Краснодар"" (Press release) (in Russian). FC Krasnodar. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ "VIKTOR CLAESSON BLIVER FCK-SPILLER RESTEN AF SÆSONEN" (Press release) (in Danish). Copenhagen. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ "Viktor Claesson signs until 2026". Copenhagen. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- ^ "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad – Final 23-man lists". Goal.com. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Viktor Claesson – Spelarstatistik – Svensk fotboll". Svenskfotboll.se. (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
- ^ "Beskedet: Claesson slutar i landslaget – Aftonbladet". Aftonbladet.se. (in Swedish). Retrieved 16 October 2025.
- ^ Viktor Claesson at Soccerway
- ^ "Viktor Claesson". EU-Football.info. 30 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ "Claesson, Viktor". National Football Teams. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ "Qatar – Sverige – Matchfakta – Svensk fotboll". Svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 19 July 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
- ^ "Portugal – Sverige – Matchfakta – Svensk fotboll". Svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 19 July 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
- ^ "Sverige – Turkiet – Matchfakta – Svensk fotboll". Svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
- ^ "Sverige – Rumänien – Matchfakta – Svensk fotboll". Svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 19 July 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
- ^ "Norge – Sverige – Matchfakta – Svensk fotboll". Svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 19 July 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
- ^ "Sverige – Malta – Matchfakta – Svensk fotboll". Svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 19 July 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
- ^ "Frankrike – Sverige – Matchfakta – Svensk fotboll". Svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 19 July 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
- ^ "Sverige – Georgien – Matchfakta – Svensk fotboll". Svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 3 September 2021.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Sverige – Polen – Matchfakta – Svensk fotboll". Svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 21 November 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
- ^ "Sverige – Spanien – Matchfakta – Svensk fotboll". Svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 3 September 2021.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Serbien – Sverige – Matchfakta – Svensk fotboll". Svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
- ^ "Svenskfotboll livescore".
- ^ "Scenskfotboll livescore".
- ^ "Scenskfotboll livescore".
- ^ "FC Copenhagen win 14th Danish league title". www.dailytimes.com.pk. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ "Mediano Superliga: Tillykke til FC København". Mediano. 25 May 2025.
- ^ "FCK win 2022/23 Danish Cup". Copenhagen. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ "FCK tager tiende pokaltitel med soloridt på hadebanen". www.bt.dk. 29 May 2025.
- ^ "Stora Grabbars Märke – Svensk fotboll". Svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ "Лауреаты сезона и список "33-х лучших игроков"". rfs.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 14 February 2022.
External links
[edit]- Profile at the F.C. Copenhagen website
- Viktor Claesson at the Swedish Football Association (in Swedish) (archive)
- Viktor Claesson – UEFA competition record (archive)
Viktor Claesson
View on GrokipediaClub career
Early career
Viktor Claesson was born on 2 January 1992 in Värnamo, Sweden, where he began playing football locally before joining the youth setup of IFK Värnamo in 2008.[8][9][10] He made his professional debut for IFK Värnamo in 2009 at the age of 17, during the club's campaign in Division 1 Södra, the third tier of Swedish football.[9] Over the next two seasons, Claesson progressed through the ranks, contributing to IFK Värnamo's promotion to Superettan, Sweden's second tier, after winning Division 1 Södra in 2010.[11] Claesson's breakthrough came in the 2011 Superettan season, where he featured in 29 league appearances and scored 13 goals, playing a key role in the team's efforts to secure survival. IFK Värnamo finished 13th in the 16-team table with 39 points from 30 matches, avoiding relegation by a comfortable margin over the bottom two sides.[12][13][14] In January 2012, Claesson transferred to Allsvenskan club IF Elfsborg for a reported fee of around 1 million SEK (approximately €115,000), marking his move to the top flight of Swedish football. Across all competitions from 2009 to 2011 with IFK Värnamo, he recorded 71 appearances and 29 goals.[15][16]IF Elfsborg
Viktor Claesson joined IF Elfsborg on 1 January 2012 from IFK Värnamo, transitioning to the Allsvenskan after a breakthrough season in the Superettan.[17] His early development at IFK Värnamo laid the groundwork for his rapid adaptation to top-division football. In his debut season, Claesson quickly became integral to the squad, featuring in 27 Allsvenskan matches and scoring 5 goals as IF Elfsborg clinched the 2012 league title—their sixth national championship—with a dramatic final-day draw against Åtvidabergs FF.[18][19] This success marked his first major honor and highlighted his versatility as a winger and attacking midfielder. Claesson's impact continued in the 2014 Svenska Cupen, where he featured in the final against Helsingborgs IF on 18 May, which Elfsborg won 1–0 at Friends Arena thanks to a goal by Lasse Nilsson, securing the club's third cup triumph.[12][20] From 2012 to 2016, Claesson demonstrated reliability and growth, accumulating 134 Allsvenskan appearances and 32 goals while contributing 26 assists, often delivering key moments in crucial fixtures.[18] His consistent output helped Elfsborg maintain competitiveness in both domestic and European competitions, including Europa League qualifiers. Claesson's tenure concluded after the 2016 Allsvenskan season, with his last appearance a 2–2 draw versus IFK Göteborg on 31 October.[21] On 25 January 2017, FC Krasnodar announced his signing for a €2 million fee, ending his five-year stint at Elfsborg where he had evolved into a cornerstone player.[9][22]FC Krasnodar
Viktor Claesson joined FC Krasnodar from IF Elfsborg on 25 January 2017, signing a 3.5-year contract after passing a medical examination.[9][5] He made his debut for the club on 16 February 2017 in the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg against Fenerbahçe, coming on as a substitute and scoring the winning goal in a 1–0 victory with a header from a Wanderson cross.[23][24] In the 2017–18 Russian Premier League season, Claesson established himself as a key attacking midfielder, making 30 appearances and scoring 10 goals, contributing significantly to Krasnodar's fourth-place finish and qualification for the UEFA Champions League. His form continued into the 2018–19 campaign, where he featured in 29 league matches and earned selection to the Russian Premier League's "33 best players" list, recognizing his consistent performances.[12] Claesson's progress was halted on 10 June 2019 during a UEFA Nations League match against Spain, when he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in his knee following a collision, sidelining him for the entire 2019–20 season. He made a strong recovery and returned in the 2020–21 season, appearing in 25 league games and netting 6 goals while adapting to a more advanced role. The 2021–22 season proved brief for Claesson, limited to 7 appearances and 1 goal in the Russian Premier League, as his contract was terminated on 5 March 2022 amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine; he cited ethical concerns over continuing in the league.[3] Over his five-year stint with Krasnodar from 2017 to 2022, Claesson made 147 appearances and scored 43 goals with 31 assists across all competitions. In European competitions, he accumulated 15 appearances and 4 goals in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League, including notable contributions in group stage campaigns.[12]FC Copenhagen
Viktor Claesson joined FC Copenhagen as a free agent on 30 March 2022, signing a contract until the end of the 2021–22 season after leaving FC Krasnodar due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[3][1] He made an immediate impact, debuting on 3 April 2022 in a Danish Superliga match against AaB, where he scored the winning goal in a 1–0 victory.[25] During the 2022–23 season, Claesson was appointed vice-captain and played a pivotal role in the team's success, scoring 13 goals in the Superliga, including several decisive strikes that contributed to Copenhagen securing the 2022–23 league title and Danish Cup for a domestic double; he also featured in the 2021–22, 2023–24, and 2024–25 title wins. Following Viktor Fischer's departure, Claesson was named captain in July 2023, becoming the club's seventh Swedish skipper.[26] On 16 June 2022, shortly after his arrival, he extended his contract with Copenhagen until June 2026, solidifying his commitment to the club.[27][1] His leadership was evident during Copenhagen's 2022–24 UEFA Champions League campaigns, where he provided crucial late goals in qualifiers, such as against Trabzonspor in 2022, aiding the team's advancement to the group stage in 2022–23.[28] Claesson has been praised for boosting team morale during these European runs, with club figures highlighting his resilience and positive influence on younger players amid high-pressure matches.[29] In the 2024–25 season, he contributed key performances, including in the Danish Cup final 3–0 win over Silkeborg, helping secure the league title (the club's record 16th) and another domestic double.[30][31] As of November 2025, he has made 165 appearances and scored 37 goals across all competitions for the club, including notable efforts in the 2025–26 Champions League qualifiers where he led the team to progression against Basel.[32][33][34] His experience from Russian football has been credited with enhancing his mental toughness, aiding Copenhagen's sustained competitiveness in Europe.[29]International career
Youth international career
Claesson earned his first call-up to the Sweden U17 national team in 2008, making two appearances without scoring during his time with the squad. He contributed to the team's efforts in the qualifiers for the 2009 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, gaining early international exposure at the age of 16. Progressing to the Sweden U19 team, Claesson represented the side from 2010 to 2011, accumulating 3 appearances and scoring 1 goal. His performances included participation in the 2011 UEFA European Under-19 Championship held in Romania, where Sweden reached the group stage before exiting the tournament.[35] Claesson's most significant youth international experience came with the Sweden U21 team between 2012 and 2014, where he made 20 appearances and netted 1 goal. He debuted for the U21s on 6 September 2012 in a friendly match against Ireland, marking a key step in his development. A highlight was his participation in the second leg of the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship playoff against Italy on 19 November 2013, though Sweden lost 2–3 in that game and 2–4 on aggregate, failing to qualify for the finals.[36][37] His strong form at IF Elfsborg during this period helped secure his selections for Sweden's youth teams. Claesson's youth international career concluded in 2014, following his earlier senior debut in 2012.[38]Senior international career
Viktor Claesson made his senior debut for the Sweden national team on 18 January 2012 in a 1–0 friendly win against Bahrain. He scored his first international goal on 8 January 2017 during a 1–2 friendly defeat to Ivory Coast in Abu Dhabi, netting Sweden's consolation strike in the 59th minute.[39] Over the following years, Claesson established himself as a reliable winger, contributing to Sweden's qualifying campaigns with his pace and crossing ability on the left flank. Claesson was included in Sweden's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where he featured in all five matches, scoring three goals in the group stage—including against South Korea (18 June 2018), Germany, and Mexico—helping Sweden top the group and advance to the round of 16, where they were eliminated 1–0 by Switzerland. His tournament experience marked a significant step in his international maturation.[7] At UEFA Euro 2020, delayed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Claesson appeared in all four of Sweden's matches, scoring a crucial injury-time winner against Poland on 23 June 2021 that clinched a 3–2 victory and top spot in Group E. His low-driven shot in the 90+3rd minute from the edge of the box sealed advancement to the knockout stage, where Sweden fell to Ukraine on penalties. However, his progress was halted by a severe ACL tear on 10 June 2019 during a 3–0 UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying loss to Spain in Madrid, which sidelined him for over a year and forced him to miss key qualifiers. Claesson amassed 74 caps and 15 goals for Sweden between 2012 and 2023, with his final appearance coming on 19 November 2023 in a 2–0 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying win over Estonia, where he scored the opener. He notably captained the side in a 1–1 friendly draw against Denmark on 11 September 2021, demonstrating leadership during a transitional period for the team. On 16 October 2025, Claesson announced his retirement from international football, citing a desire to prioritize family and club commitments at FC Copenhagen; he was honored with the Stora Grabbars Märke award for surpassing 50 caps.[40][41]Career statistics
Club statistics
The following table presents Viktor Claesson's club career statistics across all competitions, broken down by season. League refers to domestic league matches (Superettan/Allsvenskan for Sweden, Russian Premier League for Russia, Danish Superliga for Denmark); Cups refers to domestic cup competitions (Svenska Cupen, Russian Cup, Danish Cup); Europe refers to UEFA club competitions (Champions League, Europa League, and qualifying rounds). Figures include appearances (goals, assists). Data is as of 18 November 2025.[12]| Season | Club | League | Cups | Europe | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 | IFK Värnamo | 29 (13, 8) | 1 (0, 0) | – (0, 0) | 30 (13, 8) |
| 2011–12 | IF Elfsborg | 27 (5, 4) | 2 (0, 0) | – (0, 0) | 29 (5, 4) |
| 2012–13 | IF Elfsborg | 23 (3, 2) | 6 (0, 1) | 6 (2, 2) | 35 (5, 5) |
| 2013–14 | IF Elfsborg | 26 (6, 1) | 6 (4, 1) | 8 (3, 2) | 40 (13, 4) |
| 2014–15 | IF Elfsborg | 29 (11, 12) | – (0, 0) | 6 (0, 0) | 35 (11, 12) |
| 2015–16 | IF Elfsborg | 29 (8, 9) | 3 (2, 0) | 6 (1, 4) | 38 (11, 13) |
| 2016–17 | FC Krasnodar | 13 (1, 3) | 1 (2, 1) | 4 (2, 0) | 18 (5, 4) |
| 2017–18 | FC Krasnodar | 30 (10, 8) | – (0, 0) | 4 (2, 0) | 34 (12, 8) |
| 2018–19 | FC Krasnodar | 29 (12, 8) | 4 (1, 1) | 9 (2, 2) | 42 (15, 11) |
| 2019–20 | FC Krasnodar | 30 (9, 6) | 2 (0, 0) | 2 (0, 0) | 34 (9, 6) |
| 2020–21 | FC Krasnodar | 24 (6, 5) | 1 (0, 0) | 8 (2, 1) | 33 (8, 6) |
| 2021–22 | FC Krasnodar | 18 (3, 2) | 2 (0, 0) | – (0, 0) | 20 (3, 2) |
| 2021–22 | FC Copenhagen | 10 (1, 3) | – (0, 0) | 8 (0, 1) | 18 (1, 4) |
| 2022–23 | FC Copenhagen | 21 (9, 4) | 7 (3, 1) | 8 (1, 1) | 36 (13, 6) |
| 2023–24 | FC Copenhagen | 16 (4, 0) | 4 (0, 0) | 11 (2, 0) | 31 (6, 0) |
| 2024–25 | FC Copenhagen | 20 (5, 5) | 6 (1, 1) | 11 (1, 2) | 37 (7, 8) |
| 2025–26† | FC Copenhagen | 3 (0, 0) | 1 (1, 0) | 9 (0, 1) | 13 (1, 1) |
- IFK Värnamo: 30 appearances, 13 goals, 8 assists.[12]
- IF Elfsborg: 172 appearances, 40 goals, 34 assists.[12]
- FC Krasnodar: 147 appearances, 39 goals, 25 assists.[12]
- FC Copenhagen: 176 appearances, 30 goals, 20 assists.[12]
International statistics
Viktor Claesson earned 74 caps for the Sweden senior national team between his debut on 18 January 2012 and his final appearance on 19 November 2023, during which he scored 15 goals. He announced his retirement from international duty in October 2025.[38][42] His senior international appearances are broken down by competition as follows:| Competition | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friendlies | 23 | 4 | 2 |
| World Cup qualifiers | 17 | 2 | 0 |
| UEFA Nations League | 14 | 3 | 1 |
| European Championship qualifiers | 11 | 5 | 2 |
| FIFA World Cup | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| UEFA European Championship | 4 | 1 | 0 |
