As the United States prepare to face Iceland twice we take a look at the Icelander nominated for the biggest individual prize in football: the Ballon d’Or Feminin.
Glodis Perla Viggosdottir was born in the idyllic Icelandic town of Akureyri, a town adorned with blue seas and snow capped mountains. To join her first senior club, Viggosdottir moved to Kopavogur, an Icelandic City deriving much of its international notoriety by virtue of being the birthplace of actor and strongman Hafthor Julius Bjornsson, perhaps better known as the Mountain from HBO’s Game of Thrones. In the ensuing years, Viggosdottir moved around to sides in Denmark, Iceland and Sweden during her early career, gaining valuable experience across the Scandinavian peninsular.
Viggosdottir was growing into an accomplished defender, calm on the ball but powerful in the challenge. Her performances for Swedish club Eskilstuna United DFF, whom she helped to qualify for the Champions League for the first and only time, drew the eye of one of Swedish football’s heavyweights, FC Rosengard.
Glodis Perla Viggosdottir: Iceland debut, EURO 2013 and facing the USWNT
Viggosdottir made her Iceland debut in 2012 in a 1-1 draw with Scotland when she was just 17 years old, fast forward 12 years later, and she has 128 caps for her country and is yet to turn 30.
Viggosdottir was trusted to feature in all but one game at EURO 2013 for her nation, having only turned 18 a month prior. A clear demonstration of the esteem the national team setup held her in, even at a young age.
Iceland would make it as far as they ever had in a major competition, making the quarterfinals. The Icelandic side knocked out the Netherlands from the competition; the Dutch would go on to win the whole thing four years later.
Iceland faced the USA in the Pinatar Cup in 2015. Coming up against the likes of Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach and Tobin Heath, Viggosdottir impressed. She played all 90 minutes as Iceland got a creditable 0-0 draw and a clean sheet, further boosting Viggosdottir’s budding reputation.
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Glodis Perla Viggosdottir and FC Rosengard
For much of her time at FC Rosengard, Viggosdottir was managed by former Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall. During her time in Sweden she lifted the Damallsvenskan title once, in 2019 with Rosengard in a season the slick centre back played every minute of. It was not long before the continental giants came knocking in search of her signature.
Glodis Perla Viggosdottir and Bayern Munich
Viggosdottir signed for Bayern Munich in 2021 as the club was looking to best their rivals Wolfsburg to be the consistent best in the league. After her first season, Viggosdottir and Munich began to dominate. In 2022, Viggosdottir was the only outfield player in the Frauen Bundesliga to play every minute of the season on the way to clinching the title with the Bavarian giants. The key to her success? Perhaps her ice-cool nature, she told Bayern Munich’s club members magazine in 2023:
“In Iceland we don’t stress so much about every little thing. We say: ‘petta reddast’. That means it will work out somehow.”
That attitude is clearly admired in Germany, as Viggosdottir was made Bayern Munich captain by manager Alexander Strauss last season and was also rewarded with a three-year extension of her deal at the time. Under her captaincy, Bayern Munich went unbeaten in the league, dropping only four points all season. She met her former manager, Eidevall, again in the UEFA Champions League this season, with her header putting Bayern on the road to a crushing victory over Arsenal. Munich will look to win the Champions League this season for the first time, having only ever made the semifinals at best. On current form and, with Viggosdottir at the back, they just might have a chance.
Glodis Perla Viggosdottir and EURO 2022
Viggosdottir was once again included in the Icelandic squad for the European Championships in 2022. Iceland went unbeaten. They drew with France in their final game but, as results conspired against them, Iceland went out in the group stage. After the tournament, a new era began for Iceland as Viggosdottir was handed the captain’s armband. Iceland, already qualified for EURO 2025, will expect an even better showing this Summer with Viggosdottir central to any chance of progressing again.
Glodis Perla Viggosdottir: Ballon d’Or Feminin
Viggosdottir is the first Icelandic player to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or and it’s no challenge to understand why. She led her nation to another European Championship qualification in a tricky group in which Iceland beat Germany 3-0. Her Bayern Munich side has been on song and went unbeaten in the league under her leadership. When compared with the other centre backs in the top nine leagues in the world this past year, Viggosdottir ranks in the 98th percentile for touches in the opponent’s box and 93rd for progressive passes. She’s unlikely to take home the Ballon d’Or next week but I would imagine she won’t mind; in her own words: “petta reddast.”