Lod joined the Loons in the middle of the 2019 season. In his five seasons with Minnesota United. In 2023, Lod made 10 appearances, all starts, and provided two assists in the regular season. His 2023 campaign was cut short after suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee against the Houston Dynamo on May 17, 2023, placing him on the season-ending injury list.
Lod returned to the pitch for the 2024 campaign, where he was named a finalist in the 2024 MLS Year-End Awards for Comeback Player of the Year. He started the season in fine form, providing 10 goal contributions (three goals, seven assists) in just eight games from February 24 to April 27, while also playing in his 100th MLS regular-season game against Charlotte FC. Lod recorded his 15th assist of the season on September 28 against the Colorado Rapids, tying former MNUFC forward Darwin Quintero’s single-season assist record set in 2018 and showcasing his playmaking skills in the midfield. He continued to reach new heights after surpassing Emanuel Reynoso in the club’s single-season goal contribution rankings with 22 (seven goals, 15 assists) after scoring the opening goal in the final home game of the 2024 regular season, ranking him second behind Darwin Quintero (26). Lod earned his first MLS All-Star roster spot after being selected by head coach Wilfried Nancy as a 2024 MLS All-Star. The Finnish international ended the 2024 regular season as the club’s all-time MLS goal-scorer with 29 goals across six seasons. He also became the all-time leader for most regular-season goal contributions in Minnesota’s MLS history, with 58 (29 goals and 29 assists).
2020 was a breakout season for Lod, starting 18 games and scoring seven goals, second on the team for the season. Lod notched his first brace as a Loon in a 4-0 win over Real Salt Lake on September 6 and recorded a “Gentlemen’s Hat Trick” in the regular season final game, providing three assists in a 3-0 win over FC Dallas. The Finnish winger converted to a false nine in the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs and scored his first playoff goal in the first round against the Colorado Rapids.
Lod was a mid-season transfer from Sporting de Gijón, where he first played in 2018, making his debut with the Liga 2 side on August 26 and scoring his first goal against Tarragona. During his time with Sporting de Gijón, Lod played 1,212 minutes across 77 games and scored four goals. Lod began his senior club career playing for Klubi-04 before making his league debut for HJK at age 18 in 2011. He helped HJK win the Veikkausliiga during his second season with the club, then proceeded to help the club win three successive Veikkausliiga titles, the Finnish Cup, and the Finnish League Cup. Across four seasons with HJK, Lod played in 120 games, scoring 21 goals and contributing 17 assists before earning Player of the Year honors for the 2014 season. Ahead of the 2015-2016 season, Lod joined Panathinaikos of the Greek Superleague, where he played for three years, scoring eight goals and 4,773 minutes across 68 games before signing with Sporting de Gijón in 2018.
Lod and his wife, Janni, spend their offseasons in their home in Finland. The two have a daughter named Louisa, who enjoys scoring goals in front of the Wonderwall at Allianz Field, and recently welcomed their son Leon Lewis to the family in October 2023. Before the start of the 2022 season, Lod completed his military requirements as a Finnish citizen.
INTERNATIONAL: Lod currently represents Finland on the Finland National Team. Lod made his international debut in 2013 at age 20 and has more than 73 caps, six goals, and 11 assists for the national team, including an appearance in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. He helped Finland qualify for the UEFA European Championship for the first time during the 2020 qualifying campaign and played in every UEFA Euro 2020 match for Finland.
