 He was the first goalkeeper to receive the Swedish Football Association award for best Swedish footballer, Guldbollen, in 1952.His national team career is more impressive, gaining 73 caps between his debut 13 May 1949 at home against England (3–1) and his final match 29 June 1958 against Brazil in the World Cup final which ended in a 2–5 loss.Karl Svensson played in four of the big tournaments, the 1950 and 1958 World Cups, as well as the 1948 and 1952 Olympic Games, winning a medal in all four.