He himself may have bet on ice hockey and become one of the most successful Swedish NHL pros as he just completed his twelfth season in Nashville Predators.
He is now chasing his second World Championship gold with Tre Kronor on home soil.
But football has always been there as a great interest, and he played himself in Leksand before the hockey commitment became 100 percent.
Most football-crazy young girls and boys have at some point dreamed of owning a football club. For most, it ends with a team in a TV game.
Forsberg, whose current eight-year contract gives him 82 million kronor per season, realized his dream two years ago when he stepped into the newly established MLS club in his hometown.
It's been a blast and I think it continues like that. We've established ourselves and the next step is to become a top club and be able to fight for titles, says Forsberg and the enthusiasm is palpable.
Hardly with time
Do you have time to attend the matches?
I've only been to one match this year, my wife (country artist Erin Alvey) is staying at home and was at one the other evening.
The football interest is great, the favorite club in the Premier League is the newly crowned champion Liverpool "yes, it's been a good season".
I watch as many matches as I can with Liverpool and Nashville.
His club has reached the playoffs four times under the five years it has existed.
The season has started well, last year was like that. We've recruited from Allsvenskan actually and he has gone into the team and done well.
It's Swedish midfielder Ahmed Qasem, Elfsborg, with merits from the U21 national team he's talking about.
Up against a teammate
For the local hockey team, the season has been a disappointment. Despite offensive big signings, the club was not close to the playoffs.
Forsberg delivered, though – 31 goals and 76 points.
It's been okay, but when you're where you are, you know it needs more, he says.
Now he wants to get a positive ending to the season.
He has done a World Junior Championship on home ice in Malmö 2014. It ended with a silver defeat to Monday's opponent Finland in overtime.
It was a fantastic journey all the way to the last second. Sold out in every match, fantastic fans.
The Finnish gold goalkeeper that time was Juuse Saros. Forsberg's teammate in Nashville is expected to guard Finland's goal on Monday evening at the Globe.
