Denmark make history with fourth consecutive world title

2025 IHF MEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

• record-breaking Denmark are the only team in the history of the IHF Men’s World Championship to clinch four consecutive titles; Nikolaj Jacobsen’s squad has now been undefeated in the competition for 37 consecutive matches — their last defeat was in January 2017 — and they can extend their streak at the next edition
• Denmark took the lead against Croatia from the start and by half-time they had already built a four-goal gap (16:12); Martinovic (six goals) and Sostaric (five goals) led the Croatian attack, but despite their best efforts they could not reduce the difference, leading to another commanding win for the Scandinavians
• Sunday’s final was the last game for captain Domagoj Duvnjak in Croatia’s jersey and he ended his chapter at the national team with his second silver medal at the World Championship, after the one in 2009

• Melvyn Richardson and Charles Bolzinger were France’s heroes in the bronze medal match on Sunday, being decisive in the last-minute win against Portugal; Richardson converted a penalty into a goal to secure the lead for France (35:34), while Bolzinger denied Areia’s attempt to level the score and send the match to overtime
• despite narrowly missing out on a podium place, Portugal wrote history at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, as they reached the semi-finals of the competition for the first time; Francisco (54) and Martim Costa (44) were the top scorers for their side, with the younger of the pair also receiving the award for Best Young Player
• Egypt (fifth) and Brazil (seventh) were the only non-European teams among the top 10 nations at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship; Egypt had their second-best result in the competition after previously finishing fourth in 2001, while Brazil celebrated reaching the quarter-finals for the first time
• the four semi-finalists were the only nations represented in the All-star Team, with Denmark and Portugal having three awardees each
• Mathias Gidsel stole the spotlight once again and showed off his outstanding skills, clinching the awards for MVP and top scorer of the tournament with 74 goals; it is the second time in a row that the 25-year-old Dane receives both awards at the World Championship, repeating his 2023 success — he netted 60 times back then

2025 IHF Men’s World Championship Final Rankings

Gold: Denmark
Silver: Croatia
Bronze: France
4th: Portugal
5th: Egypt
6th: Germany
7th: Brazil
8th: Hungary
9th: Iceland
10th: Norway

2025 IHF Men’s World Championship All-Star team

Goalkeeper: Emil Nielsen (Denmark)
Right wing: Mario Sostaric (Croatia)
Right back: Ivan Martinovic (Croatia)
Centre back: Martim Costa (Portugal)
Left back: Simon Pytlick (Denmark)
Left wing: Dylan Nahi (France)
Line player: Victor Iturriza (Portugal)

Best Young Player: Francisco Costa (Portugal)
Top goal scorer: Mathias Gidsel (Denmark) – 74 goals
MVP: Mathias Gidsel (Denmark)

Photos © Kolektiff Images (Anze Malovrh, Jozo Cabraja, Sasa Pahic Szabo)