Meet Stina Blackstenius, the super sub who shocked Barcelona and won Arsenal the Champions League with a 1-0 winner

Stina Blackstenius came off the bench to become Arsenal's hero in the 2025 UEFA Women's Champions League final. Her goal in the 75th minute against defending champion Barcelona secured a 1-0 victory for Arsenal in Lisbon. It was Arsenal’s first European title since 2007. And once again, Blackstenius proved she is made for big matches.

She came off the bench and made an instant impact. Beth Mead set her up with a neat pass. Blackstenius finished calmly, showing why she’s called a “super sub.” She also scored the winning goal in the League Cup final against Chelsea earlier in the season.

Who is Stina Blackstenius?

Blackstenius was born on February 5, 1996, in Vadstena, Sweden. She started playing football at just six years old. Her goal-scoring talent showed early. At 16, she scored 21 goals in one season. The next year, she netted 38 goals and won Östergötland Player of the Year.


She joined Linköping FC and helped them win the Damallsvenskan in 2016. She scored 19 goals that season. Her career took her to Montpellier in France, and then back to Sweden, where she shined for BK Häcken. In 2021, she was even nominated for the Ballon d'Or.

How did she become Arsenal's game-changer?

Blackstenius joined Arsenal in January 2022. She quickly became a key player. She scored 18 goals in both the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. Many of her goals came as a substitute. In 2023-24, she scored seven goals off the bench. Some were late winners, including ones against Manchester City and in cup finals.

Her goal against Barcelona ended their run for a third straight Champions League win. It also proved that Arsenal is back among Europe’s best.

Contribution to the Swedish national team

For Sweden, Blackstenius has played over 100 times and scored more than 30 goals. She led the team to the semi-finals at Euro 2022 and the 2023 World Cup. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she was Sweden’s top scorer with seven goals, a national record.

What makes her special?

She’s known for her strong runs, clever movement, and calm finishing. She is 1.74 meters tall and uses her strength well. Her father created her unique name, one of only three Blackstenius in the world.