Pernille Harder is one of those players who makes women’s football look effortless. At 33, the Danish forward-midfielder is still at the top of her game, playing for Bayern Munich and leading Denmark’s national team. Standing at 168cm and 59kg, she’s not the biggest on the pitch, but her right foot, vision, and timing make her a nightmare for defenders. Born on November 15, 1992, in Ikast, Denmark, Harder has built a career that’s packed with trophies and individual honors. She’s a two-time UEFA Women’s Player of the Year, a nine-time domestic league champion, and has been named Danish Female Footballer of the Year seven times.
In 2020, she even picked up the German Female Footballer of the Year. But right now, all eyes are on her place in the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) all-time goalscoring charts. She’s sitting in sixth with 45 goals, just one shy of equaling the legendary Marta, and seven away from claiming second spot overall. With the knockouts looming, this could be her moment to climb even higher.
Harder’s journey to the top started in Denmark, but it was in Sweden with Linköping FC where she first made waves in Europe. She joined them in 2012 and quickly became a key player. The Damallsvenskan was her playground, and she scored 85 goals in 109 appearances across all competitions. In the UWCL, she netted nine goals during her time there, showing early signs of her clinical finishing. In the 2014/15 season, Linköping reached the round of 32, facing Liverpool.
Harder was instrumental, scoring in both legs as Linköping won 5-1 on aggregate. Her goals came from clever runs and sharp finishes, often exploiting spaces behind the defense. The following year, 2015/16, they faced Brøndby, and Harder added more to her tally with a brace in the home leg. In 2016/17, against Manchester City, she scored again, but Linköping bowed out. Those nine goals were the foundation, blending power and precision traits that would define her career. It was clear even then that Harder wasn’t just a scorer; she was a creator too, dropping deep to link play and assist teammates.
Moving to VfL Wolfsburg in 2017 was a step up, and Harder thrived in the Bundesliga’s competitive environment. She won the double four times in a row and reached the UWCL final twice. Her goal log from this period is impressive, with 28 goals in the competition during her Wolfsburg stint. Look at the 2017/18 season: she scored five goals in the round of 32 against Atlético Madrid and Fiorentina.
In the home game against Atlético, she bagged two, one just after halftime and another later, showing her ability to strike when the game opens up. The away leg added more, with goals in the 47th and 65th minutes. Her free-kick abilities and headers came into play too. In the quarter-finals against Slavia Prague, she scored twice in the home leg, one early at 12 minutes and another at 58. The semi-finals against Chelsea saw her net one, and even in the final loss to Lyon, she scored in the 93rd minute, a consolation, but a sign of her never-give-up attitude.
The 2018/19 season saw Harder add seven goals. Against Þór/KA in the round of 32, she scored in both legs, including one at 31 minutes away and 28 minutes home. Against Atlético again in the round of 16, she was unstoppable, scoring three in the away game (61′, 65′, 67′) and one at home at 46′. The quarter-finals against Lyon were tough, but she scored two in the home leg at 53′ and 56′, assisted by Ewa Pajor and Caroline Graham Hansen.
These goals highlighted her versatilitywith her right foot, left foot, headers, and volleys. She could do it all. In 2019/20, she added four more, including a hat-trick against Mitrovica in the away leg (46′, 48′, 67′) and one home at 29′. The round of 16 against Twente saw one at 71′, and in the quarter-finals against Glasgow City, she scored four at 16′, 45+2′, 56′, and 71′. That performance was pure dominance, with assists from Alexandra Popp and Svenja Huth. Wolfsburg reached the final that year but lost to Lyon again. Harder’s time at Wolfsburg cemented her as one of Europe’s elite, blending goalscoring with playmaking.
In 2020, Harder made a high-profile move to Chelsea for a then-world-record fee. It was a new challenge in the Women’s Super League, and she adapted quickly. During her three seasons at Chelsea, she scored 10 goals in the UWCL, contributing to their run to the 2021 final. Her first UWCL goal for Chelsea came in the round of 32 against Benfica at 45 minutes, assisted by Guro Reiten.
In the quarter-finals against Wolfsburg, she scored three across the ties: one at 66′ home, one at 27′ away, and another at 66′ home in the return. These were classic Harder goals—reacting first in the box, using her left foot for precision. In the semi-finals against Bayern Munich, she scored at 84′ home, assisted by Jess Carter. The 2021 final against Barcelona was a disappointment, but Harder’s impact was clear.
The 2021/22 season added two more: against Wolfsburg at 90+2′ with a left-foot strike assisted by Melanie Leupolz and Fran Kirby, and against Juventus at 69′ with a right-foot finish assisted by Sam Kerr. In 2022/23, she had a hat-trick against Shkodër in the group stage at 38′, 72′, and 88′, assisted by Guro Reiten, Bethany England, and Kateřina Svitková.
These goals were a mix of volleys and sharp finishes, showing her instinct in the box. Chelsea didn’t win the UWCL during her time, but Harder’s contributions helped them dominate domestically, winning three WSL titles. Her ability to link with strikers like Kerr and midfielders like Kirby made Chelsea’s attack fluid and dangerous.
Now at Bayern Munich since 2023, Harder is adding to her legacy. She’s already scored 8 goals in the UWCL for them, with more to come. In the 2024/25 season, she started strong against Arsenal in the group stage, scoring three in the home game at 73′, 78′, and 86′ headers and a left-foot finish, assisted by Carolin Simon, Klara Bühl, and her own shot.
Against Juventus away, she scored at 73′ with a deflected right-foot strike. Home against Juventus, at 52′ with a left-foot finish from Bühl’s shot. Against Vålerenga, at 10′ with a header from Bühl. Then in 2025/26, she has 4 goals already: against Juventus at home at 11′ with a header from Bühl, against Arsenal at home at 80′ with a left-foot strike from Bühl, and two against Atlético Madrid away at 63′ and 78′, one deflected right-foot, one volleyed header from Bühl.
These recent goals show Harder’s partnership with Klara Bühl is clicking, with Bühl assisting many. Her xG numbers are solid 6.1 in Bundesliga, 1.5 in Champions League this season,n and she contributes assists too, with 3 in league and 1 in Europe. At Bayern, she’s playing as an AM, dropping deeper to orchestrate, but still getting into scoring positions. Her SCA (shot-creating actions) at 38 in league and 11 in UWCL underline her creativity.
Now, the big picture: Harder’s 45 UWCL goals put her in sixth all-time. Ada Hegerberg leads with 69, a record that’s hard to touch. Anja Mittag is second with 51, Eugénie Le Sommer third with 50, Conny Pohlers fourth with 48, and Marta fifth with 46. Marta, the Brazilian icon often called the women’s football GOAT, has six World Player of the Year awards and a career that’s inspired generations.
Her 46 UWCL goals came mostly with Umeå and Rosengård, full of flair and skill. Harder is just one goal from tying her, which would be a massive milestone. Imagine that the Danish star equals the Brazilian legend.
But Harder isn’t stopping there. Seven more goals would take her to 52, surpassing Mittag for second place. Mittag’s 51 came from stints at Turbine Potsdam and Rosengård, known for her poaching. To get there, Harder would need a deep run in the knockouts. Bayern are group winners, and with players like Georgia Stanway and Lea Schüller, they have the firepower.
Harder’s recent form of 11 goals in 17 appearances across league and Europe suggests she’s peaking. Her body part breakdown shows versatility: right foot for power, left for finesse, headers for aerial threat. Distances vary from 2 yards (tap-ins) to 20 (stunners). Many are assisted by wingers like Bühl or midfielders like Stanway, showing her movement off the ball.
What makes Harder special is her all-around game. She’s not just a goalscorer; she’s a leader. For Denmark, she’s the captain, with over 80 international goals. Her Instagram, @pharder10, gives glimpses of her life off the pitch, including training, family, and advocacy for women’s rights in football. She’s openly in a relationship with Magdalena Eriksson, and they’ve been vocal about LGBTQ+ issues. This authenticity adds to her appeal.
Compared to Marta, Harder lacks the dribbling magic but excels in intelligence and positioning. Marta was a solo artist; Harder is a team player. To equal her, Harder might need a big performance in the quarter-finals. If Bayern face Lyon or Barcelona, that’s where legends are made. Seven for second seems ambitious, but with the league phase format allowing more games, it’s possible. Hegerberg’s 69 is safe for now, but Harder could close the gap.
Looking ahead, at 33, Harder has a few years left. Bayern’s project is building, and with the UWCL knockouts starting soon, she could add to her tally. The Did You Know? Roma’s 6-1 was big, but Harder’s hat-tricks stand out. Her best goal? That 86′ strike against Arsenain Octoberer 2024 was pure instinct.
Harder’s story is about consistency and evolution. From Linköping’s underdog to Wolfsburg’s star, Chelsea’s record signing, and Bayern’s leader, she’s adapted every time. As she chases Marta and Mittag, she’s reminding us why women’s football is thriving. The knockouts will tell if she climbs the charts, but one thing’s clear: Pernille Harder is already a legend.
