Ada Hegerberg Would Prefer to Talk About Soccer

As a norwegian I'm delighted that Ada won the balon d'or. She is a fine representative of our country and of her sport. But I am disappointed that she will no longer play for the national team. We are not exactly oversupplied with quality players. Norway played dismally in the last European championships as did Ada but soccer is a team sport and Lyon a more accomplished side than Norway. I would urge the national soccer association and Ada to patch up their differences, cease with what seem to be silly disagreements, press the delete button and get back out there. Obviously while this would demand a huge portion of humility from our biggest star, it would enhance her reputation as a truly great sportsperson. Also it has been said before and bears repeating; life is just too short.

My daughter is a striker and I’m happy to have Ms Hegerber as an example of the hard work and dedication that life requires. If France Football had started this award a few years earlier, Carli Lloyd and Marta would have a Ballon d’Or too. Hopefully, Norway will get their footballing house in order so Ms Hegerberg can take the World Cup stage. It would be good for Norway and for world football.

I have to disagree with those who criticized this article for focusing on the unfortunate awards comment. I think the article showed Ms. Hegerbergs agility and deftness in not stooping. She sounds pretty phenomenal, as a player, and a role model. I for one will be looking to see what her future brings.

Here's a question for long-haired soccer players: Does a braid around your head, as Ms. Hegerberg has at least some of the time she's playing, affect your headers? I would think it would make your aim off-target a little, at least for headers that glance off the side of your head where the braid is, but quite possibly I don't know what I'm talking about. Ada Hegerberg seems to do fine.

She is awesome!!! I don't follow soccer but, she is amazing!

"She does not enjoy rehashing her specific grievances anymore, but they had built up over time, she said, until the situation became “unbearable.” Some, including Norway’s federation, have described the move as temporary, a “break” from the team. But Hegerberg insists it is permanent." Hegerberg might not want to discuss the reasons she left the Norgwegian team. But those of us readers who aren't followers of Norwegian soccer would appreciate a summary of the issues that led her to abandon her national team. The whole subject is left hanging in this article.

This is so cool! I'm so glad to see that the women's game is getting the attention it deserves. I have a side gig as a sports photographer, and I absolutely love when I am assigned to cover the women's game. Football, er, I mean, soccer, is my favorite, but I'll take basketball as well. The game is played with such grace and teamwork and collective passion. Beautiful! Congrats to Ms. Hegerberg!!

I must take the Times to task for calling the DJ's nasty and disrespectful remark a "controversy." Plain and simple, someone tried to drag a world class athlete and role model down to his level. No controversy there.

Why does the author of this article have to raise the sexist moment at the awards ceremony last week? Celebrate this young lady’s success and admire her awesome football skills

This article dwells as much on the "twerking" incident as on the best soccer player in the world. There's the achievement, the effort and talent, the hard work, the game itself, the teams, her teammates, the fans, her coaches, all of which are barely touched on while the Trump-like twerking moment is offered up as the defining point of view for a genuine sports champion. The article has good intentions but framing it around a retrograde testosterone addict who sees a woman and thinks "twerking" is to inadvertently (the alternative would be unforgivable) repeat the sin of the father while diminishing the historic (and insufficiently noticed) achievement of a daughter. Imagine Michael Jordan being asked by an emcee at his MVP trophy ceremony if he could tap dance or do the hustle and the GOAT story was reduced to the toilet paper trailing from the emcee's shoe and MJ's scowl response. If I needed to explain the notion of back-handed sports writing, This article would do nicely. The NYTimes owes Ada Hegerberg, her sport and her fans, a champion's profile unshaded by a twerk jerk who doesn't even rate a footnote in the annals of football.

I love what her parents taught her: “You can always criticize upward,” Stein Erik Hegerberg said, “but never kick downward.”

The question about twerking that Mr. Solveig asked Ms. Hegerberg at worst was stupid. But not as stupid as the huge outcry over him making that comment. That outcry has detracted from Ms. Hegerberg's considerable accomplishment in winning the Ballon d'Or so much more than the twerking comment itself. If ever there was a case of concern over p.c. running amok, this is it.

Kudos for her personal and hystoric achievement. The answer i wish she would have give to Solveig question: "Can you twerk?" " No, but i bet you can do the "worm" ". And drop the mic.

Bravo!

What is the author trying to say with this article?

My ten year old daughter eats sleeps and breathes soccer. It's great to see such a role model for her.

Hey, just so you know, the name of the club is Olympique Lyonnais... in Lyon !

Nice to give women soccer some NYT exposure. So sad that the women's version of this globally most popular sport generates little to no public attraction. The video shows totally empty stadium seating, not even a single seat filled. I hope Ada's success and your article will change this. Go Ada!

Thank you Ms. Hegerberg for your inspiring play, and personal integrity. That you parted from your national team out of principle is as worthy as the Ballon D'Or. I have a daughter in competitive soccer who will look to your example of humility, perseverance, athletic excellence and integrity. In addition to your current causes, please lend your voice to making sure that the Women's FIFA tournament is played on grass (instead of turf) - just like the men. Hope you visit Canada soon!