Collecchio, 9 January 2025 - Pontus Almqvist is a perfect example. Not only because, like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he was the only Swedish player to score a goal in his Serie A debut. That is the past: now for ‘Pontus’, as everyone calls him around Collecchio, there is the present, the Gialloblu shirt, and something more.

The Swede is not, in fact, a mere pawn in Parma's offensive department. He leaves nothing to chance; he is a player who sacrifices himself and runs tirelessly for the team. His contribution is not limited to goals or assists: Pontus is the one who does the dirty work, the one who puts his heart into every play and is always ready when he enters the game. It is no coincidence that he is the Parma player with the most appearances as a substitute in this Serie A: 13 out of a total of 16. A significant figure that highlights his ability to get on the pitch and make a difference, to enter an open game and try to get it done.

In terms of minutes played as a substitute, Almqvist ranks at the top of the table: only Atalanta's Lazar Samardzic (388 minutes) has played more minutes as a substitute than the Swede's 360 minutes.

And his impact is clear: this season, his constant appearance has led to him starring in two goals: an assist in the match against AC Milan on 24 August, and a goal against Lecce on 21 September, just one less than in his entire previous season in Serie A with Lecce (where he scored three). Staying on the subject of goalscoring, Pontus is one of five Swedes to have found the net in the Gialloblu shirt: the company is illustrious, with names like Tomas Brolin, Dejan Kulusevski, Riccardo Gagliolo and Jesper Blomqvist.

The forward is also known for his tactical intelligence, a talent that has been noticed since the moment he stepped through the gates of the Mutti Training Centre in Collecchio: among players with at least 500 minutes played in this Serie A, Almqvist ranks first for cutbacks, with an average of 1.8 per game, and 6th for dribbling, with an average of 5.4 per game. Important numbers that tell us he is a complete striker, who not only scores, but also creates chances and disrupts opposing defences with his speed and tactical intelligence. 

Pontus is not simply a striker: he is a key player, capable of leaving his mark every time he gets on the pitch.