"This isn't just about Ada Hegerberg… It's about what's best for Norway," Norwegian broadcaster NRK recently proclaimed, referring to the captain of the women's national football team.

The broadcaster added that Hegerberg had "simply not performed well enough at the European Championship in Switzerland to justify a spot in the first eleven. The alternatives are better."

Most Norwegians seem to agree. In an online survey conducted by NRK with around 20,000 participants, 75% favored not including Hegerberg in the starting lineup for Norway's quarterfinal match against Italy on Wednesday.

First Ballon d'Or Féminin winner

Ada Hegerberg is one of the biggest stars in women's football. In 2018, she became the first winner of the  Ballon d'Or Féminin. Unfortunately, the award ceremony was also remembered for the presenter asking the football star if she wanted to perform a "twerk" on stage.

However, Hegerberg's success on the pitch is unquestioned. She is the Champions League's all-time top scorer with 66 goals. Since moving from the then-Bundesliga club Turbine Potsdam to Olympique Lyon in 2014, she has won the Champions League six times, as well as 10 French league titles and six French Cups.

Pushing for equal pay

But recently, things haven't been going so well for the 30-year-old. She only came on as a substitute in most of her matches for Lyon last season, managing a mere seven goals. That's a far cry indeed from the more than 50 goals that she scored in all competitions in both the 2015-16 and 2017-18 seasons.

Hegerberg made her first of 93 appearances for Norway in 2011 at the age of 16,  scoring her 50th goal for in the 2-1 win over hosts Switzerland in the opening match of Euro 2025.

Her total appearances and goals could have been significantly higher if Hegerberg hadn't retired from the national team in 2017, partly in protest against the lower bonuses then being paid to female national team players compared to their male counterparts.

Hegerberg didn't return until 2022 – following what she described as positive discussions with the then-new Norwegian Football Association president, Lise Klaveness. In 2018, the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) had also moved to implement equal pay for the women's and men's national teams – something the striker had been demanding.

Norway's women have been highly successful over the years, winning the European Championship in 1987 and 1993, the World Cup in 1995 and an Olympic gold medal in 2000. This may be part of the reason that so many girls take up the game in the Scandinavian country.

According to the NFF, around 70,500 female footballers are currently registered with the association, not including girls under 13. This accounts for 27.6% of active players in Norway, while in Germany the equivalent percentage of adult players is 17.2%.

Carrying on the fight

The fact that so many girls and women play football in Norway is also something Hegerberg can take credit for. Years after the NFF implemented equal pay, she continues to fight for greater equality in women's football.

"There are always things that can be improved," Hegerberg told Swiss newspaper "Blick" before the start of Euro 2025.

"It helps a lot when we perform well. We still have to fight against so many prejudices."

On the bench on her birthday

Back then, Hegerberg could hardly have imagined that her own performance would  come in for such scrutiny during the tournament. With Norway having already secured a place in the quarterfinals, national team coach Gemma Grainger rested the captain in their final group-stage match against Iceland – on Hegerberg's 30th birthday, of all days.

Grainger demonstratively backs Hegerberg. "She gives her all for this team. I'm very happy with her," said the coach. Hegerberg herself remains calm in the face of criticism at home. "I'm taking it in stride. A little fuss is fine."

Edited by: Jonathan Harding

This article was originally published in German.