Proud Hegerberg receives Ballon d’Or

Olympique Lyonnais' Ada Hegerberg celebrates with the Women's Ballon d'Or award during the Golden Ball award ceremony at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, Monday, Dec. 3, 2018. Awarded every year by France Football magazine since Stanley Matthews won it in 1956, the Ballon d'Or, Golden Ball for the best player of the year will be given to both a woman and a man. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Proud Hegerberg thanks family after receiving Ballon d’Or

Ada Hegerberg was awarded the prestigious Ballon d’Or on Monday, when the high-ranking prize was awarded for the first time to a woman, in Paris.

 

Hegerberg was among 15 nominees for the highly valued award. After receiving the Ballon d’Or, she thanked her boyfriend and family.

‘’Thanks to my fiancee, who is my biggest support.Thank you also to my family who is here to today. Thank you for all the support you have given me’’ said the 23-year-old award winner in her thank-you speech.

She also said a big thank you to both teammates, supporters and club management in Lyon.

‘’This is amazing. I do not have words,’’ said the Sunndal girl.

Goal scoring machine

Hegerberg was nominated for both UEFA and FIFA prizes for being this year’s female football player of the year for the 2017/18 season earlier this autumn. On Monday, she was named the world’s best female football player last season.

The winner of the award concluded her thank-you speech by sending a greeting to future female footballers.

“I want to end with a few words to young girls around the world. Please believe in yourself,” said Hegerberg, who got her teammates in Lyon with her on stage.

The Ballon d’Or winner has scored to order for Lyon after her transfer to the French club in 2014. Last season was no exception. 53 goals, with 15 of them in the champions league, which was a record.

In total, the 23-year-old scored 120 goals in 95 matches for her current club. Hegerberg strongly contributed to Lyon taking their third straight championship last season.

Prestigious

Balloon d’Or, often translated to Gullballen in Norwegian, is considered the most prestigious individual award a football player can win.

Before Monday’s prize giving, the Sunndal girl was ready to enjoy the experience in Paris.

“This is quite amazing.I’m hard-pressed to put words to it.

I’ll just enjoy it. This does not happen often in life,’’ she told TV 2 on the red carpet.

The Hegerberg called the award of Monday’s prize “a big step for the women’s football”.

“It means very much. Just this prize here is very historical. It is the first female balloon d’Or, and this is a big step for women’s football. I think we all feel this is great,” she said.

 

© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today