In 2018, Norwegian professional female footballer Ada Hegerberg became the first recipient of the Ballon d'Or Féminin and was the all-time top UEFA women’s club scorer in 2019. She was also named Footballer of the Year in 2017 and 2019 by BBC. But beyond her numerous achievements and accolades, she is also known for her activism off the field.
Born in 1995, she began her professional career playing for clubs in Norway as a teenager before joining Olympique Lyonnais in France in 2014 and quickly gaining worldwide attention. However, despite her undeniable success, she never wanted to sacrifice integrity for stardom. This is why she decided in 2017 to stop representing the Norway national team in protest against disparities in pay, conditions, and recognition between the men’s and women’s leagues.
"It's also about being respected for the work you put in, whether you're a woman or man, to respect you for the athlete you are but also the person you are and there were things that I didn't accept in terms of being the person I was, in terms of being a woman with ambitions and I didn't think the bar was set as high as it should be," she said.
She hasn’t represented Norway since then, consequently missing the 2019 FIFA Women’s World cup in France while nominated for the Best FIFA Women’s Player award. The year 2020 brought further challenges, as she faced an ACL injury and a stress fracture requiring an operation.
Nevertheless, she has found other ways to further her career, whether it is through a documentary or new endorsement. With the recently released documentary ‘My Name is Ada Hegerberg’ she tells her story and reveals the reasons behind her opt-out decision and the resulting international controversy.
Last year, she also signed a ten-year endorsement deal with Nike. With her aim being to grow the sport, her gesture is less about money and more about teaming up with a company committed to women’s sports.
“It is yet another massive step in my career. My performances brought me here, and I want to keep writing history with the help of Nike, on and off the field. I am thrilled to be part of this team,” she said.
Throughout her athletic career, Hegerberg has proved that it is possible to stand up for your beliefs and call out injustices, while also remaining dedicated to the sport and to making it fair for all.