He Just Won World Player of the Year 3 Times in a Row — No One Has Ever Done That
On February 13, 2026, the International Handball Federation (IHF) made an announcement that sent shockwaves through the handball world [citation:5].
Mathias Gidsel had won World Handball Player of the Year for 2025 [citation:1][citation:5].
That alone wouldn't be news. He'd won it before. In fact, he'd won it in 2023. And in 2024 [citation:1][citation:5].
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| He Just Won World Player of the Year 3 Times in a Row — No One Has Ever Done That |
Three in a row. From 2023 to 2025. No man in the history of handball had ever done that [citation:5][citation:9].
Nikola Karabatić won three times — but not consecutively. Mikkel Hansen won three times — but not consecutively.
Mathias Gidsel just became the first male player ever to win three straight IHF World Player of the Year awards [citation:1][citation:5].
At 27 years old, he's already standing alongside the legends. 🏆
📊 The Exclusive Club: Three-Time World Players of the Year
Since the IHF World Player of the Year award was established in 1988, only three men have won it three times [citation:1]:
Gidsel now stands on the same pedestal as Karabatić and Hansen — two of the greatest players in handball history — with one crucial difference: he's the only one who did it back-to-back-to-back [citation:5][citation:9].
"Now being on par with Mikkel Hansen and Nikola Karabatić says everything, I think. It's incredible that my name stands next to these two."
— Mathias Gidsel, after receiving his third World Player award [citation:5][citation:9]
🌟 2025: The Year That Made History
Gidsel's third consecutive award wasn't handed to him. He earned it with one of the most dominant seasons any handball player has ever produced [citation:5][citation:9].
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🏆 With Füchse Berlin:
- ✅ First German Championship in club history
- ✅ Broke his own field goal record in the Bundesliga
- ✅ Named MVP of the "strongest league in the world"
- ✅ Reached the EHF Champions League final — best international placement ever for Füchse Berlin
- ✅ Top scorer of the Champions League
🏆 With the Danish National Team:
- ✅ World Championship gold (2025)
- ✅ Named MVP and Top Scorer of the World Championship
The IHF award is decided by a combination of fan votes, a committee vote, and votes from national team coaches at the 2025 World Championship [citation:5]. Gidsel beat out his Danish teammate Emil Nielsen (FC Barcelona) and Croatian star Ivan Martinovic [citation:5].
🏅 Gidsel in Füchse Berlin action — the season that made history
🇪🇺 2026: The European Championship That Sealed His Legacy
Just weeks before receiving his third World Player award, Gidsel had delivered one of the greatest individual performances in European Championship history [citation:2][citation:6].
Denmark hosted the EHF EURO 2026 in Herning — and Gidsel was unstoppable:
In the final against Germany — a 34:27 victory witnessed by Danish Queen Mary and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz — Gidsel scored 7 goals and was named Player of the Match [citation:2].
After the final, he was asked about the MVP award. His response? Characteristically humble [citation:6]:
"The gold medal is what counts most. That's what we were fighting for — we were missing this trophy. But of course I'm happy with all these individual awards. They prove that I helped my team at a high level. I think I'll soon need a new room for the trophies at my parents' house."
— Mathias Gidsel, after winning EM gold [citation:6]
🥇 Denmark's EM 2026 gold medal celebration — Gidsel was MVP and top scorer
🧠 The Mental Game: Gidsel's Secret Weapon
Behind the goals and trophies lies a lesser-known story: Gidsel's commitment to mental training [citation:7].
In his own newsletter, "The Gidsel Circle" — which he launched in January 2026 — he opened up about a topic that remains taboo in handball [citation:3][citation:7]:
"Mental training was a taboo for a long time in handball. Something that was considered a weakness and not discussed openly. I believe that mental training is important — in handball and in life. That's why I want to talk about it openly."
— Mathias Gidsel, The Gidsel Circle [citation:7]
He recalls a turning point during the 2025 World Championship, when the pressure was overwhelming [citation:8]:
"Mathias, you don't have to carry the world on your shoulders."
— Katrine, Gidsel's girlfriend, in a text message that changed his mindset [citation:8]
That simple message from his girlfriend became his mantra. It helped him let go of the impossible weight of expectation and just play [citation:8].
💕 The Woman Behind the Champion: Katrine Kirkelund
While Gidsel's trophies fill a room at his parents' house, there's one person who doesn't seek the spotlight [citation:4].
Katrine Kirkelund — 27 years old, Reformer Pilates instructor — has been with Gidsel since their efterskole days. They reconnected in 2022 when Gidsel moved to Berlin, and by January 2023, they were officially a couple [citation:4].
She moved with him to Berlin, leaving behind her friends, family, and parts of her own career. She's the one who sits in the stands wearing his jersey, who takes care of their dog Hermann when he's away, and who sends the messages that keep him grounded [citation:4][citation:8].
"She is the biggest rock I have. She carries a huge load for the two of us. No success would be possible without her."
— Mathias Gidsel about Katrine [citation:4]
🏆🏆🏆 The exclusive club — only three men have won World Player three times
📧 The Gidsel Circle: Taking Control of His Story
In January 2026, Gidsel launched a monthly newsletter called "The Gidsel Circle" on LinkedIn [citation:3].
The idea came after a media misinterpretation of a book he wrote with teammate Simon Pytlick. The press chose a headline that he felt "removed focus from the central theme — hard work" [citation:3].
So he decided to take control of his own narrative. Within days, over 10,000 people had subscribed [citation:3].
Through the newsletter, he shares behind-the-scenes moments, his thoughts on mental training, and glimpses of his life off the court. It's his way of building a personal brand — and his teammates "drill him a little" about it [citation:3].
"Some of my teammates think it's silly, and they tease me a little. But that's been seen many times before in other sports."
— Mathias Gidsel on his newsletter [citation:3]
🔮 What's Next for Gidsel?
At just 27 years old, Gidsel has already achieved more than most players do in a lifetime [citation:4].
But he's not done. He has spoken about playing 6-8 more years at the highest level [citation:4]. After that? He wants to move back to Denmark with Katrine, spend time in their summer house, and focus on family [citation:4].
With Füchse Berlin signing superstars Dika Mem and Simon Pytlick in 2027, Gidsel has acknowledged that his workload may decrease — but that only means he can focus on quality over quantity [citation:4].
For now, the world is watching. The first man to win three straight World Player awards. The 68-goal EM record holder. The MVP who filled the trophy room at his parents' house [citation:6].
And he's just getting started. 🏆🇩🇰
💕 Gidsel with girlfriend Katrine — the rock behind the champion
🔍 Fact Check: Authentic Sources Confirm Every Detail
✅ Fact 1: Gidsel won World Player of the Year for 2023, 2024, and 2025
According to Lex – Danmarks Nationalleksikon, Mathias Gidsel won the IHF World Player of the Year award for 2023, 2024, and 2025, joining Nikola Karabatić and Mikkel Hansen as three-time winners [citation:1].
✅ Fact 2: He is the first male player to win three in a row
Handball-Team and Handball-Papst both confirm: "Er ist der Erste, der dreimal hintereinander die IHF-Wahl zum Welthandballer gewinnt" — He is the first to win the IHF World Handball Player award three times in a row [citation:5][citation:9].
✅ Fact 3: Gidsel scored 68 goals at EM 2026, breaking the all-time record
The EHF Champions League official website reports: "Gidsel finished on 68 goals — four more than his teammate Simon Pytlick, the second top scorer — and beat the goal record for a single EHF EURO, previously held by Sander Sagosen (65 in 2020)" [citation:2].
✅ Fact 4: He was named MVP of EM 2026 — first Dane ever
Abola.pt confirms: "Gidsel fez história ao tornar-se no primeiro dinamarquês a ser eleito MVP de um Campeonato da Europa masculino, superando lendas como Mikkel Hansen ou Niklas Landin" [citation:6].
✅ Fact 5: He launched "The Gidsel Circle" newsletter in January 2026
Nyheder24.dk reports that Gidsel launched a newsletter called "The Gidsel Circle" on LinkedIn. He had over 10,000 subscribers within days [citation:3].
📊 Mathias Gidsel's Trophy Cabinet (Selected)
💬 What People Are Saying
"An exceptional athlete, an exceptional person, an athlete who has shaped handball in recent years. That the choice fell on Mathias is, I believe, a surprise to no one in world handball. With his passion for the sport, he is the outstanding personality in handball."
— Bob Hanning, Füchse Berlin Managing Director [citation:9]
"That's fantastic for Mathias and everyone around him. The number of top players in handball is incredible, yet he absolutely deserves this award. The level he shows over such a long period is proof of how strong he is."
— Nicolej Krickau, Füchse Berlin Coach/Sporting Director [citation:9]
🧠 Final Takeaway
✅ First male player to win World Player of the Year three times in a row — 2023, 2024, 2025 [citation:1][citation:5]
✅ Joined Nikola Karabatić and Mikkel Hansen — as the only three-time winners in history [citation:1]
✅ EM 2026 MVP and Top Scorer — 68 goals, new all-time record [citation:2][citation:6]
✅ First Dane ever named EM MVP — surpassing legends Hansen and Landin [citation:6]
✅ Bundesliga Champion, CL Top Scorer, World Champion — completed handball in 2025 [citation:5]
✅ Launched "The Gidsel Circle" newsletter — over 10,000 subscribers in days [citation:3]
✅ Katrine by his side — "No success would be possible without her" [citation:4]
Mathias Gidsel is 27 years old. He has already achieved what no other male handball player in history has achieved — three straight World Player awards.
He has gold medals from the Olympics, the World Championship, and the European Championship. He has broken scoring records. He has a trophy room at his parents' house that he jokes will need an expansion [citation:6].
And he's just getting started. 🏆🇩🇰
🔁 Your Turn
Do you think Mathias Gidsel will win a fourth World Player of the Year award in 2026 and extend his historic streak?
Drop your thoughts below 👇
And share this with a handball fan who needs to know about the man rewriting history.
© 2026 · Sources: Lex.dk, EHF Champions League, Nyheder24, KendisVerden, Handball-Team, Abola.pt, TSV-Pelkum, Henrysdream, Handball-Papst, GoHandball (all external links use rel="nofollow")
World Player awards: 2023, 2024, 2025 · EM 2026: January 2026 · Award announcement: February 13, 2026
