ISLAMABAD: Pakistan football team captain Abdullah Iqbal has made history after helping Swedish club Mjällby AIF win their first-ever Allsvenskan title, completing one of European football’s most remarkable underdog stories.

The small club from Hällevik, a fishing town of just 1,485 residents, clinched the Swedish championship with a 2-0 win over IFK Göteborg, finishing 11 points clear of second-placed Hammarby. The triumph also secured Mjällby a spot in the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds, marking their debut on the European stage.

The 22-year-old center-back, who grew up in Denmark and has roots in Kharian, Punjab, has been an integral part of Mjällby’s defense this season. Iqbal featured in 22 league matches, playing the second-most minutes among defenders and contributing two assists.

Swedish media and fans have hailed Iqbal on social media as one of Mjällby’s standout performers of the season. His consistency and leadership have earned praise for elevating the team’s defensive discipline and helping turn a small-town club into national champions.

European interest in Iqbal is also growing. According to FootballDirekt, one of Sweden’s biggest football sites, several clubs from Italy and England are preparing offers for the young defender following his impressive debut season in Sweden.

Mjällby’s rise from the third division in 2016 to national champions in 2025 has been described as the most unlikely title win in Sweden since Leicester City’s Premier League triumph in 2016. Built on smart recruitment and tight defense, the club operated on a budget nearly one-sixth that of serial champions Malmö FF.

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Pakistani football star helps underdog Mjällby win historic Swedish league title