Player Profile: Jesper Lindstrom

Jesper Lindstrom is yet to have a massive impact on his national side, but this might all change in Qatar. Despite being just the second-youngest member in the squad at 22, Lindstrom has proven to be one of the most existing prospects in European football this year. Primarily an attacking midfielder, he can also deputize on both the wings as well as play centre-forward.

A pivotal part of Brondby’s first title-winning side in 16 years, he scored 10 goals and assisted 10 more in just 29 appearances. This earned him a €7.00m move to Eintracht Frankfurt. In his first year in the Bundesliga, he scored 5 goals and provided 4 assists capped off by winning the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season for 2021/22. Frankfurt also went on to have an extraordinary European campaign as they lifted the Europa League in 2022. This season, Lindstrom has already managed to notch up 6 goals in just 12 starts as he kicks forth in his sophomore season in the Bundesliga.

Primarily utilized alongside Mario Gotze in the right-hand side attacking midfield position, Lindstrom offers something different to Frankfurt. Mainly playing as a second striker, he utilizes his dynamic movement and controls the half-spaces to create issues amongst the opposite defense. Drifting in and out between the lines, Lindstrom makes it close to impossible to track him. Combine this with his turn of pace, and you can understand why he has managed to take the most shots for Die Adler this season. Lindstrom is a good dribbler too, and he loves to link play in the penalty area.

The young attacking midfielder needs to make the most of his opportunities. Though Denmark’s glaring weakness would be the lack of a top-class striker, all other positions on the wings and midfield will have a lot of competition from the likes of Skov Olsen, Damsgaard, Dolberg, and others. This means he will not be nailed on as a starter to begin the world cup but could cement his place if he performs well coming off the bench or even if he impresses when allowed to start.