Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg returns to the Norway squad for the first time in FIVE YEARS after finally resolving a dispute with the country’s federation over the treatment of women’s football
- Ada Hegerberg quit international in 2017 after dispute with Norway federation
- Hegerberg returns ahead of Euro 2022 this summer and the 2023 World Cup
- The 26-year-old said on Thursday: ‘It feels incredibly good to be back’
Lyon forward Ada Hegerberg returned to the Norway squad for the first time in nearly five years on Thursday, handing a huge boost to the team ahead of this summer’s European Championship.
Hegerberg, who won the inaugural women’s Ballon d’Or in 2018, quit the national team in 2017 because of a dispute with the Norwegian Football Federation over the treatment of women’s football in the country. The federation’s attempts to break the impasse failed.
Hegerberg missed the 2019 World Cup where Norway were knocked out by England in the quarter-finals. She will return to the team after being included in coach Martin Sjogren’s squad for the 2023 World Cup qualifiers against Kosovo and Poland next month.
Lyon forward Ada Hegerberg has returned to the Norway squad for the first time since 2017
‘It feels incredibly good to be back,’ Hegerberg said in a video message.
‘I will do my part to help us achieve great things, both on and off the field – for football, for Norway, but not least for the next generation.’
Hegerberg holds the record for the most goals scored in a Champions League season with a tally of 15. The 26-year-old is seeking to return to her best form following a long-term knee injury she picked up in January 2020.
Coach Sjogren described Hegerberg as ‘one of the world’s best strikers’.
‘It’s a position where we have lost some players and she will be a very good addition to the squad we have,’ Sjogren said.
‘For the most part, we have talked about how we see the future together, and not what has happened in the past,’ he added.
Hegerberg has won the Women’s Champions League five times with French giants Lyon
‘It was mostly to do with Ada’s role and how we can make the team even better. The conversations have been very good.’
Norway, who have qualified for the 2023 World Cup, top Group F on 16 points after six games.
The 2022 Euros will be held in England in July, with Norway set to face Northern Ireland, England and Austria in the group stage.