Viktor Gyokeres Named Swedish Footballer of the Year

Viktor Gyokeres, the 26-year-old striker for Sporting CP, has been awarded the Guldbollen, Sweden's prestigious Footballer of the Year award for 2024. This accolade is presented annually to the most outstanding Swedish male footballer.

Gyokeres transferred from Coventry City to Sporting CP in the summer of 2023 for a fee of €20 million. Since joining the Portuguese club, he has delivered remarkable performances, significantly contributing to the team's successes this season.

Upon receiving the award, Gyokeres expressed his gratitude, stating: "It's a great honor to receive this award. I've had an incredible year, and I'm glad these achievements have been recognized. I want to thank everyone who voted for me."

This marks Gyokeres' first time winning this esteemed award. He surpassed fellow Swedish stars Dejan Kulusevski of Tottenham Hotspur and Alexander Isak of Newcastle United to claim the title.

Gyokeres' outstanding form has attracted interest from several major European clubs. However, Sporting CP has made it clear they have no intention of selling their star player, setting his release clause at €100 million.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic holds the record for the most Guldbollen awards, having won it 12 times—a remarkable achievement. As one of Sweden's emerging football talents, Gyokeres has secured his first Guldbollen. While matching Ibrahimovic's record will be challenging, Gyokeres' future in football looks exceptionally promising.