Therefore, it is here and now in Valencia and hopefully on Tuesday in Solna that he will experience some of his greatest moments in his blue-and-yellow career, one that spans ten years and 73 international matches.
The 31-year-old is aware that this is his last chance to play in a second World Cup. His time with the national team is coming to an end. He has not yet decided when it will be time to say goodbye.
"I haven't made a decision. I don't really know how I feel about it yet, but it's my last chance to play in a World Cup," he says.
That's why tonight's playoff semi-final means so much to the centre-back who is now based at Aston Villa.
Everything. Hopefully we can perform well and have one more match.
Injured nose
Lately he has been training and playing with a black face shield. He explains why:
"I've had it for almost 1.5 weeks and I've gotten used to it, even though it's a bit strange. I got a knock to my nose in training the day before the away game against Lille in the Europa League. The swelling has gone down and almost all the bruises are gone," he says.
Just as national team coach Graham Potter points out, Sweden must perform at the highest level for the World Cup dream to live on.
Nilsson Lindelöf is on board with what it takes when he is asked about experiences and memories from previous Swedish playoffs for the World Cup.
He has played two. One successful, one bitter.
The Miracle in Milan in 2017 meant qualifying for the World Cup in Russia.
Against Italy we defended incredibly well, we kept a clean sheet in two games and fought for our lives.
Feeling strong faith
Five years later, the national team lost to Poland.
Against Poland we were a bit sloppy. It's important to be psychologically prepared. I think all the guys know what we have to play for.
Experiences from all the important matches are in his bones when he steps into the Estadi Ciutat de Valencia.
You're always learning things, knowing how to handle different situations. But I have no idea what the match will be like. It could be something completely different from what I have in mind.
When asked why one should believe in the national team after the weak World Cup qualification, Nilsson Lindelöf answers:
It has been a tough period, but I still feel strong faith in this team, in these guys and that we have what it takes to reach the World Cup.
