Patrick Berg did not start Norway’s campaign as a first-choice player, but he earned his place in the starting XI after a stellar performance in the Nordic side’s final Group I game. He quickly became a key figure, helping the Vikings in the Round of 32, before impressing again as they repeated the feat in the last 16.
At 28, Berg is one of Norway’s senior figures and even wore the armband in the , with captain rested ahead of the knockout stage. Speaking exclusively to FIFA, Brazilian goalkeeper Ricardo Friedrich – Berg’s teammate at Bodø/Glimt from 2017 to 2020 and currently of Malmö in Sweden – described him as a leader whose words and actions are measured and decisive.
“I was captain in 2019 and we went through some very intense moments – we were expected to be fighting relegation, but ended up finishing runners-up,” the shot-stopper recalled.
“Today, Patrick is deservedly one of the captains and one of the team’s standout players, and he is now attracting attention across Europe and at the World Cup. He has a conscious style of leadership. He’s not someone who talks all the time or tries to impose himself by raising his voice – he speaks calmly and openly. When he does speak, everyone stops to listen, because he speaks with authority.”
Those qualities are also reflected in the way the midfielder plays. Berg is not a player who usually catches the eye with dribbles, bending long passes or moments of individual brilliance. Yet he always seems to be in the right place at the right time, helping his side build play and covering ground across the pitch.
“Patrick is a very focused, committed and intelligent player,” said Friedrich. “He sees football differently. You can tell he understands and reads the game like few others.”
Patrick’s game intelligence comes with serious pedigree: the Berg surname carries huge weight at Bodø/Glimt. His father Orjan Berg, uncles Runar and Arild Berg, and grandfather Harald Berg – one of the greatest players in Bodø/Glimt’s history – all represented the club, while Orjan, Runar and Harald also played for Norway.
“The Berg family have a rich history at Bodø/Glimt,” explained Friedrich. “His father, uncles and grandfather were icons of the club, but Patrick has earned his place in that history.”
In 2023, Patrick’s grandfather, Harald Berg, was honoured with a statue at the main entrance to Aspmyra Stadion in Bodø. Considered the greatest player in the club’s history, he is depicted lifting the Norwegian Cup in 1975.
“I heard the statue was only erected after many years of attempts, because he was too humble,” Friedrich added. “Harald is a Bodø/Glimt and Norway legend. He’s recognised as one of the country’s all-time greats, and everyone at the club is immensely proud of that connection.”
Arild sadly passed away in 2019 at the age of 43. The youngest of Patrick’s uncles made more than 100 appearances for Bodø/Glimt in the 1990s, but illness forced him to hang up his boots prematurely shortly after the turn of the millennium. Years later, he was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Following his death, he was honoured at the stadium before a match in which Friedrich started in goal and Patrick also took to the pitch, despite the difficult personal circumstances.
As a keen hiker, Berg is well aware that reaching the top requires persistence. That mindset has helped him navigate the inevitable setbacks of a footballer’s career.
“In 2019, he injured his shoulder in the first league match,” Friedrich recalled. “It was a complex, recurring injury, but he really got stuck into his rehab and managed to return earlier than expected to help us have a great season.”
Having come through the ranks at Bodø/Glimt, the Bodø native had a brief spell at Ligue 1 outfit Lens in 2022, but struggled to settle and was soon brought back by the Norwegian club. He rediscovered his best form and helped make history with his team in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League, reaching the last 16 and along the way.
Friedrich believes the Landslaget’s head coach made the right call by giving Berg a more prominent role during the World Cup. “After watching the first few matches, I even said to my wife that a player like him couldn’t stay on the bench,” he said.
“I’m happy to see him earn a starting place, get the recognition he deserves and achieve everything he has in his career. It shows that you reap the rewards of hard work and commitment.”
Sources: FIFA Official
