Noam Leopold has become one of the most talked-about finishers in world handball. From the left wing and the penalty line, his efficiency stands out – but behind the soft wrist and clinical numbers lies a relentless competitor obsessed with scoring when it matters most. GoHandball sat down with the Swiss star for an exclusive interview.
In recent seasons, Noam Leopold has earned a reputation as one of the game’s most efficient left wingers. Reliable from tight angles, calm from seven meters, and increasingly decisive in key moments, he is often labeled as a pure finisher. But that is not necessarily how he defines himself.
“How do I see myself? I think that’s something the media or other people decide – how they want to classify my skills,” Leopold says.
“I know what I’m capable of, but I also know I still have a lot of room to improve. Of course, I think I’m a good finisher, but I also think I’m a good competitor. I love to compete.”
For Leopold, the act of scoring is stripped of aesthetics and ego. The only thing that matters is the outcome – and the team.
“In the end, it’s more important to score a goal than how you score it. My focus is always on how I can help my team achieve our goals. If that means being one of the most efficient scorers there is, then that’s my job. And I try to improve every day.”
A product of countless hours of work
In Europe, coaches and commentators often talk about Leopold’s “wet wrist” – a term reserved for players with a soft, natural release and exceptional touch. When asked to describe his shooting feel, Leopold laughs.
“I have a really good arm and a good shoulder as well. It’s a mix of being loose, but still having a lot of efficiency, skill, and precision.”
That touch, however, is no accident. It is the product of countless hours alone in the arena, repeating movements and testing details.
“I’ve spent hours and hours shooting by myself, with goalkeepers, trying to figure things out,” Leopold explains.
“I love doing that. It’s fun to shoot in different ways – but the most important thing is to score. It’s nice to have a good wrist, but if you don’t score, it doesn’t matter.”
The importance of mental work
Finishing has always been part of Leopold’s game, but his efficiency is something he believes has evolved significantly in recent years.
“I’ve always had a lot of variety in my shots. But my efficiency has improved a lot in the last few years. A goal needs to be a goal – it doesn’t matter how. Learning to shoot in different ways makes you less predictable for goalkeepers, and that helps efficiency.”
So how much of elite finishing is talent – and how much is work?
“It’s definitely a mix. Everyone who plays at this level has talent. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be here. But I can say that I’m a really hard worker. I spent hours in arenas as a kid, and I still do today.”
He also highlights an often overlooked component of scoring under pressure.
“Mental work is really underappreciated. You can have all the different shots in the world, but if you can’t use them in the right moment, it doesn’t help. If you doubt yourself, your wrist doesn’t matter. You have to trust yourself when you need it.”
Does he have a favorite finish from the wing?
“I’m not going to say that,” Leopold laughs.
“Then all the goalkeepers will know and wait for it.”
Still, his philosophy remains simple.
“You have preferences, of course, but the mindset is to score, whatever shot it is. Every goal counts the same. I love figuring things out, trying different ways of shooting, but what excites me the most is competition.”
At the highest level, decisions are made in fractions of seconds. For Leopold, finishing is a balance between reading the goalkeeper and trusting instinct.
“It happens so fast that sometimes you don’t have time to think. You prepare, you try to read the goalkeeper, but in the end, you have to trust your instinct. When you start overthinking, you get into trouble. Trust yourself. Compete.”
“The little boy who had a dream”
Asked what advice he would give to young players dreaming of scoring like him, Leopold’s message is grounded and familiar.
“Most of all, have fun playing,” he says.
“Try to learn as much as possible. Test things in training. Spend time with the ball. And in the end, trust yourself and your preparation. Go out there and do your thing.”
Growing up, Leopold was a student of the wing position, studying countless clips online.
“I watched every wing shooting tutorial on YouTube. I tried to take the best things from every wing player. Like many from my generation, I loved watching Uwe Gensheimer – what he did with his wrist was amazing.”
That process of learning never stopped.
“All wing players have different qualities. They all have big repertoires. You have to find your own identity. That’s still my process today.”
Now, he finds himself on the other side of that equation, as a reference point for the next generation.
“It’s nice to know that people try to copy things I do. That my work is seen. But I’m not doing it for that. I’m doing it for myself – and for the little boy who had a dream.”
And that journey, he insists, is far from finished.
“There’s still a lot to improve. I’m really excited to see what’s coming next,” says Noam Leopold.