The first handball player to secure the IHF World Player of the Year award for three consecutive years, Mathias Gidsel reached the milestone in 2026. Born in 1999 in Skjern, the Danish athlete has established himself as a prolific scorer and primary playmaker, demonstrating endurance and technical precision while competing at the highest levels of international and club handball.
Early Development and Domestic Success
Gidsel attended Oure Efterskole beginning at age 15, spending five years at the institution to refine his skills. He joined GOG Håndbold in 2014 and earned a promotion to the senior squad in 2017. Despite early skepticism from coaches regarding his physical stature, Gidsel maintained his position as a back. In 2021, he became the first handball player since 1957 to receive the Årets Fund award from Team Danmark and Politiken. His tenure at GOG culminated in a 2022 league title victory, following his return from a knee ligament injury.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Transition to the Bundesliga
Upon moving to the German side Füchse Berlin, Gidsel became a central figure in European club competition. He secured the 2022/23 EHF European League title and led the club to its first-ever Handball-Bundesliga championship during the 2024/25 season. In the same season, he set a record for open-play goals in a single Bundesliga campaign with 264. By August 2026, Gidsel recorded his 1,000th goal in the league, achieving the feat faster than any player except Jerzy Klempel.
International Dominance
Debuting for the Danish national team on 7 November 2020 against Finland, Gidsel quickly became a fixture in the squad. He claimed silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, earning MVP honors, and later secured gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics as both top scorer and MVP. In 2026, he led Denmark to European championship gold, marking a rare moment where the nation held continental and Olympic titles simultaneously. Throughout his international career, he has broken multiple scoring records, including the highest single-player goal total at a European tournament.
Fast facts
- Born: 1999, Skjern, Denmark
- Citizenship: Kingdom of Denmark
- Jersey Number: 19
- First National Team Appearance: 7 November 2020
- IHF World Player of the Year: 2023, 2024, 2025
- 2024 Olympic Top Scorer: 62 goals
- 2026 European Championship Top Scorer: 68 goals
- Club Affiliation: Füchse Berlin
Questions readers ask
Why does Mathias Gidsel wear the number 19?
He wears the number 19 due to his admiration for French player Luc Abalo.
What individual honors did Gidsel receive in 2025?
In 2025, he was named IHF World Player of the Year, Danish Sports Name of the Year, and Bundesliga MVP.
Achievements
- Represented Denmark men's national handball team and Füchse Berlin
- Competed at handball at the 2020 Summer Olympics – men's tournament
- Discipline: handball
.jpg)
