UEFA Women's Euro 2025: Norway's Ada Hegerberg feeling positive ahead of quarter-final vs Italy

There’s been no stopping Ada Hegerberg since she began playing top-division football at the age of 15. No woman European footballer has reached the level that she has with OL Lyonesse – winning six French league titles, five Coupes de France and five Champions Leagues so far. The first recipient of the Women’s Ballon d’Or in 2018 is also the only footballer with a hat-trick in a Champions League final.Ahead of Norway’s Euro quarterfinal against Italy at Stade de Genève in in Lancy, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday, the captain, in a freewheeling chat with , spoke about her dreams for a title with the national team, her continued strive for women’s equality and the implication of Indian women making it to the continental stage, and on the world stage someday. Excerpts:You have had a lot of achievements in your personal and club career. But a trophy with Norway has evaded you so far. How important is that for you and do you think this Euros can change that?Well, we were very close in 2013. We went to the final and we could have been European champs. Yes, I would love to do well for Norway, and I feel we couldn’t be in a better position than we are now to do that. Sometimes, we need to take into account that we’re a very small country of 5.5 million and we’re going to play a quarterfinal in the Euros. And the way we got there makes me incredibly proud of the girls because we’ve been working very hard to get to where we are at the moment, and now I think you need to enjoy it. But standing here after three games, winning all three, is a fantastic situation to be in. So, you kind of pinch yourself sometimes and feel grateful. And I feel very positive going into this quarterfinal. What are going to be the challenges for your team against higher-ranked Italy in the quarters?First, we respect Italy a lot. They have a good team, they’re very stable, they have good players, they’ve had good results coming into the Euro, so no game is going to be easy. And that’s the kind of mentality we have as well — that you must fight for every point and every ball. And it’s a big, big country we’re playing against. But at the same time, we must go into the game with belief in ourselves, positivity and will to fight for our country, for our teammates. And I hope we get a lot of Norwegians that we managed to engage behind us. It’s a big moment for us. So, it’s going to be challenging, but I hope we enjoy every minute of it. You have been a spokesperson for equal rights and pay for women’s footballers and even stayed out of the national team in protest for a few years. Do you think a lot has been achieved in Norway, Europe and around the world in that respect?Throughout my career, I would say that development has been incredible. You have to be honest about that. But it’s always about making sure that we take the next step in the right direction. And sometimes I think you need to be alert about which decisions are being made for your sports on a national level. In Norway, Lise Klaveness becoming the federation president has been of huge importance. She’s a very impressive Norwegian woman who stands for lots of positives and backs women’s football fully. So, I feel like we’re heard and seen by our leader in Norwegian football. And I think having characters like her is hugely important for the sport because it’s all about taking the right decisions and you need people on top to take them for us. But as a player, you just want the sport to be in a better position than what you found it to be in. And I think in my time in the game, a lot of things have happened. But we still have to fight for things to change. We’re not there yet, but we’re on our way and we have to stand together and make sure it happens together. What has been the most memorable moment in your decorated career so far?Oh, I feel very lucky. It’s hard to pick one. I think I’m going to take a step back when I have retired and look at this crazy career. What a journey it’s been — the highest of highs, the lowest of lows. All those Champions League finals have been absolutely some of the best memories. Scoring a hat-trick in a Champions League final is unheard of. And, at the same time, representing Norway is a huge thing for me. Something that makes me feel proud is seeing young girls and boys coming to our games and cheering for us. That’s what drives us as footballers — seeing the next generation get inspired. The Indian women’s football team has a chance to qualify for the World Cup through the Asian Cup. What do you think about that?India is such a big nation. Imagine how many girls want the opportunity to do what they love and play the beautiful game. So, obviously, having the Indian women’s national team at the top stage representing India, there’s nothing better for the next generation of girls growing up. It’s a way of educating society as well. So, it’s huge. And with the huge population of India, imagine all the talent that is everywhere. And once you take care of that talent, the things you can achieve over time are limitless. Being a top footballer who is also an activist for the women’s game, do you believe activism and professional football go hand in hand?I think I realised quite a long time ago that being a woman’s footballer and not fighting for equality is impossible. I think it’s a challenge because it brings a lot of responsibility. But it’s totally worth it. I see the change and the impact we can have. Obviously, if you don’t perform, you won’t have that voice, either. So, it’s always performance first and then I think of what can I do to have an impact on my own sports? What can I do to have an impact on the next generation growing up? Once I’m done in the game, there’s going to be new ones. Being brilliant in the game, taking on that responsibility, and it’s going to continue. That’s the cycle of life. It’s the way of history and women’s equality. It will always be a constant discussion, constant battle, and it can be tiring and very challenging. But it’s worth it and needs to be done.