Gustaf Lagerbielke, Swedish baron set to face France at the World Cup | OneFootball

From a Swedish noble family, Gustaf Lagerbielke has held a baronial title since 2022, yet prefers to play it down. The Braga defender, 26, faces France in the World Cup round of 32 on Tuesday at 19:00.

On reports about royal succession, he laughed: "I don't know if it's true. But I think for that to happen, many people would have to disappear, and I have no desire for that to happen," he told The Athletic.

His family have long belonged to Sweden's nobility. Father Johan is a count, as was his late grandfather, and Gustaf became a 'friherre', the Swedish equivalent of baron, in 2022. He seldom uses the title in public.

Claims that he is 254th in line to the throne are wrong. That figure is his baronial branch number in the nobility register. The comital branch held by his father is 115, and as the eldest son he should inherit it one day.

Before the tournament he bought the music game Hitster in Stockholm and packed it for the trip. Created by Marcus Carleson, it plays clips via QR codes that players place in chronological order, and it has been a hit in the Blagult dressing room.

After spells in Sweden, then Celtic and Twente, he joined Braga. He played the entirety of Sweden's first three matches, a 5-1 win over Tunisia, a 1-5 defeat to the Netherlands and a 1-1 draw with Japan. Next up are Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola.

Source: L'Équipe