New Delhi: The football community should pay attention to Ada Hegerberg's remarks. Due to the position she is prepared to take, not just the goals she scores and the trophies she wins. The exceptional talent is also the first female player to ever win the Ballon d'Or.

She left the Norwegian national team at the height of her abilities, though, because she thought that women's football deserved better—equal treatment, better facilities, and more support.

She is currently back in her role as player and captain after being gone for five long years. With a flawless run, Hegerberg, 30, has led Norway to the top of Group A at the UEFA Women's Euro.

The Scandinavians rallied from behind to defeat Switzerland, the tournament's host nation, by a score of 2-1, narrowly defeat Finland by a score of 2-1, and win a nail-biter against Iceland by a score of 4-3 to end with the most points possible. With her header against Switzerland, Hegerberg scored her 50th goal for her country.

“Being nominated captain is a huge opportunity; what matters is contributing to a victory over Switzerland,” Hegerberg told HT in a conversation made possible by Fancode. I really value that degree of trust. It is quite inspiring. I have a lot of motivation to share my knowledge with this group.

She's gone back to a team that has a different vibe and appearance. Hegerberg stated, "We've been really fortunate to have Lisa Klaveness as our new president of Norwegian football. When I was away, she completely comprehended what I said. She has experienced it firsthand.

Additionally, Gemma Grainger's empathetic approach to her new role as team manager in 2024 has created a new dynamic. "She's all about wanting to help us out and support us. Above all, we are people, not robots. Thus, it is crucial to have a leader who looks out for you.

And it appears to be effective. Norway have reached the quarterfinals, a significant step up from their previous two tournaments, where they were eliminated early on.

"Sometimes we have to pinch ourselves," Hegerberg laughed. "We're tiny Norway, and we're going to play a quarterfinal in the Euros." It's lovely.

Nonetheless, Hegerberg is still concerned about the underlying problems that plague the women's sport. Despite studies showing that female footballers are far more vulnerable to ACL injuries than men, research and frameworks are still lagging.

"I don't believe we're there at all right now. I'm constantly asking myself if we have enough skills. Are the results that have already been discovered being put into practice to better protect female players?

“With more games and travel, the demand for players is increasing. However, everything around them must also rise. First of all, avoid using research conducted on men's sports and applying it to women's sports. We are very different.

Her own battle against her injuries has been excruciating. She recovered from a torn ACL, but then she experienced a protracted stress fracture that nearly ended her career. "It was really tough for me to not have that assistance and skill, but once I did, I recovered and have been performing at my best ever since."

She is fully aware of the legacy she will leave behind, even if her primary attention is on the Euros.

"I really just hope that I've given it all," she remarked. "Every time I stepped on that pitch I gave it all." For my squad, for my sport. I want to experience that sense of closure. I know I'll be reflecting on it and wondering, "What didn't I experience? I think I've been through it all." People would not believe me if I wrote a book about it.

"However, really, I'm leaving the game in a better state than when I joined it. I aspire to leave that behind.

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