Barkov says he leads by example as fans hail his humility
Wednesday 12th August 2026 on 19:00 in
Finland
Ice hockey world champion and Finland captain Aleksander Barkov met fans in Tampere on Wednesday while displaying the World Championship trophy, Yle reported. Many fans regard Barkov as a role model, although he said he has not given much thought to that role.
After reflecting on the subject, Barkov said he valued the supporters who follow his career.
“It means a lot that some people support me and follow my career,” he said.
This summer, Barkov took part in a campaign by UN Women Finland against intimate partner violence. President Alexander Stubb is the campaign’s public figurehead, alongside Barkov and eight other well-known Finnish men.
Barkov said he joined because he wanted to set an example.
“I have always been someone who tries to lead by example. It comes naturally to me to try to do everything wholeheartedly and as well as possible,” he said.
The World Championship trophy was also on display during the event at Vapriikki Museum Centre in Tampere.
Barkov has also attended Eppu Normaali’s farewell concert this summer. He said festivals and concerts were not usually his thing, but described the concert as a great experience.
“It was an incredible concert, and the feelings were really bittersweet because it was the last time they performed. They played every song extremely well,” he said.
Barkov said it was an impressive achievement for Eppu Normaali to perform more than 40 songs over three consecutive nights. He added that although an important part of the music of Finland and Tampere had come to an end, music would live on.
Anni Välimäki, who travelled from Hämeenkyrö and supports Tappara, said she had always liked Barkov. She described him as humble and down to earth, and said she believed he wanted to share good things with others because ice hockey had given him so much in life.
For Tampere resident Konsta Kankkunen, Barkov has long been a role model. Kankkunen said he had followed him since Barkov played in Finland’s top league in 2013, praising him as an outstanding player who shares the puck and donates to charity.