The explanation is on the glass and frame on a wall at home in the apartment. Lionel Messi has been hanging there for a long time.
Or his match jersey, to be precise.
I'm pleased with it. He's an idol I've had since I was little, says Gudmundsson and tells how he cleverly got hold of the highly sought-after jersey.
There were just a few seconds left of the match. I think it was two years ago. I actually checked the clock, saw the referee, and realized it was almost over, and I kept myself closest to Messi.
Took courage
The 25-year-old took courage and Messi had no objections to an exchange. But whether the Argentine chose to place Gudmundsson's jersey in a similarly prominent spot in his home is unclear.
I hope he hung up mine, says Gudmundsson and laughs.
Like the rest of Lille, he had a cannon match in the 1–0 win against Real Madrid in the Champions League last week.
Awesome, fun, and a historic evening for the team and the club. I was up against world stars and got to measure myself against them. I've met some before, but when you're up against Real Madrid, it's extra special.
Can't relax
Who did you have against you?
Federico Valverde, Endrick, and Dani Carvajal, all on the right side. It went well. But it's not the tempo, it's the quality of the ball handling that's the big difference. You can't relax for a second. You have to be on your toes all the time.
Gudmundsson, who feels just as comfortable as a defender or midfielder on the left wing, played against Estonia last time in the Nations League. He hopes to get the chance again, next against Slovakia in Bratislava on Friday.
It felt really good last time. I got to stay back a bit and be more defensive. At the same time, I'm very confident in my defense, and it felt good too.
I'm quite flexible and can play in many different positions. I'm ready for what's coming, he says.
