There she was. She raises her rainbow armband to the sky. Honoring those who suffered from hate in Oslo. with a message “#Love”. Ada Hegerberg was playing just her third game since returning to Norway after five long years when tragedy struck the country’s capital. The shootings at a popular LGBTQ+ venue, Herr Nilsen jazz club and another pub on June 25.
When the women’s national team played New Zealand later that same day, Hegerberg opened the scoring and raised her rainbow captain’s armband in tribute to those who had suffered. A gesture that she explained in just one word on her social media after the game.
This was Hegerberg’s fourth goal in her third game since returning to the national team after a five-year hiatus. The 26-year-old decided not to wear the national jersey in protest against gender equality at the Norwegian Football Association (NFF). “(NFF) took a train back to the 19th century and stayed there,” Hegerberg said in her ESPN+ documentary (My Name is Ada Hegerberg), recalling the frustrations that led to her decision in 2017.
In the 42-minute documentary, it is revealed that the Norway women’s national team faced problems such as being allowed to play on worse pitches than their male counterparts, boots being late and when they arrived they often had the wrong size. All this while playing the 2019 World Cup qualifier. Although the NFF was one of the first in Europe to equalize pay between male and female team players, Hegerberg has insisted the issues lie beyond the amounts of money received.
She mentions in one segment that a certain coach asked her to shut up when she addressed gender bias towards the NFF directors. It would all take a toll on her as the Norway international later mentioned she had nightmares at this stage. With the administrators taking no action to improve the standard of facilities for the women’s team, Hegerberg decided to part ways with the national team. A decision that drew criticism, even from some of her Norwegian teammates.
The Norwegian FA blamed Hegerberg, saying her decision surprised her, while the player claimed she put the situation in the FA’s heads months ago. Norway would go into the 2019 World Cup without Hegerberg and reach the quarter-finals before losing 3-0 to England.
To understand who was missing from Norway and the World Cup, one need only look at 23-year-old Ada Hegerberg’s roll of honors ahead of the summer 2019 tournament. Five league titles, four Coupe de France and four Champions League titles with Lyon, including a 30-minute hat-trick in the 2019 final. Hegerberg, who won the Ballon D’or in 2018, also overtook Anja Mittag as the all-time leading scorer in the 2019 Women’s Champions League. She was also the fastest to score 50 goals in both men’s and women’s Champions League history.
She had scored 38 goals in 66 games for Norway (ranked ninth in the women’s rankings) and reached the final of Euro 2013. Her absence only made international play worse and Hegerberg restored it in her first appearance for the national side in five years by scoring a 40-minute hat-trick against Kosovo in the 2023 World Cup qualifier. “I missed it, I missed it a lot,” Hegerberg told The Guardian of her return to the national team.
“To play for your country, to represent your country, is fantastic. Something that runs deep is the connection with the new generation. I remember connecting with all those young girls and boys on the national team, feeling like you have a connection and inspiring them, that was a big thing for me.”
Hegerberg explained that it was the right time for a return as the Norwegian FA will be led by its first female president in Lise Klaveness, a former Norway international. “She made it very clear that there were a lot of changes in the system, new people that helped create a new dynamic,” the 26-year-old said in her Guardian interview, speaking after her talks with the newly appointed Norwegian was asked FA boss. “Ultimately, we could have talked about the situation forever, but now it’s just about being in this situation together. I want to be a part of it again and try to make things even better because obviously there is always more to do.”
Hegerberg’s time at Lyon Football Club is crucial in understanding her perspective on the changes needed for girls and women playing football for Norway. With eight Champions League titles, Lyon has the most successful women’s football team in Europe. The French club, under the presidency of Jean-Michel Aulas, has deliberately worked to create mirror facilities and allocate the same resources to its men’s and women’s teams. From training/strength and conditioning facilities to the kits, from the quality of the pitch to travel and accommodation options. Lyon have set the standard for even greater footballing powers in Europe to follow.
Lyon’s win in the 2021/22 Women’s Champions League final against Barcelona showed how far they are as a team from clubs with even greater resources. After a 3-1 result of the season, Hegerberg scored the second goal of the game and later another that was ruled offside. Previously, she had scored one goal in each of the two semi-final games against PSG. A sizzling silverware post after missing professional football for 18 months with a cruciate ligament injury.
And with her four goals in four games for Norway since her return, the national team and their fans have the star player they wish they could have for EURO 2022. The sport too. Ada Hegerberg is not only one of the best in football, but also one who brings out the best in football. A player who, at the peak of her powers, left international football to push for the bigger issue she felt was plaguing football in her country. The kind of player who deserves the game, maybe one who deserves every game. The kind whose legacy isn’t defined by their own careers, but by those who follow.
Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, when asked what she wanted her legacy to be, Hegerberg’s response was brief, upbeat, and personal. “I really hope that I have done everything I can to ensure that my sport is appreciated, respected and left better than I found it. He’s a lot taller than me.”