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History-maker Ada Hergerberg wins first Women's Ballon d'Or
4 December 2018
A proud Ada Hergerberg shows off the Women's Ballon d'Or to her Lyon teammates © UEFA
Ada Hegerberg wrote herself into the history books when she was named as the first ever winner of the Women's Ballon d'Or award at a glittering ceremony in Paris.
Norwegian international Ada, who helped Lyon to the French title and Champions League, scoring in the final, pipped Denmark’s Pernille Harder to the prize, while Luka Modric won the award for men's football.
However, moments after picking up the prestigious award, 23-year-old Ada was asked to twerk onstage by the host DJ, Martin Solveig, prompting widespread anger, with many people online expressing their dismay over the remark.
An outpouring of frustration and disbelief from across the world drew a swift 'response from Solveig who posted a video of his 'apology' on Twitter and wrote: “Sincere apologies to the one I may have offended.”
However nothing should overshadow the achievements of this outstanding footballer, who made her top-flight Norwegian debut for Kolbotn aged 15 and has already racked up more than 250 career goals, including a record 15 in the 2017/18 UEFA Women's Champions League, her and Lyon's third triumph in a row.
In 2015/16 Ada was voted UEFA Best Women's Player in Europe and with the 2018 Ballon d'Or now in her possession, has written her place in the history books.
How fitting, that the words spoken after picking up her award were as inspirational to others as she has been to them: " I feel very proud, it is not often I used the word proud, but I really am, to be a part of this.
"Sometimes it is really frustrating when you have an episode or situation when you think 'damn’ we are in such a man's world’ but at the same time I have never looked at myself different from a man footballer. I have always felt the same I work hard to achieve my dreams like every other girl out there. That is the way we have to look at it.
"This is a great motivation to continue working hard and we will continue to work together to win more titles. I wanted to end with some words for young girls around the world: believe in yourselves.”
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This is a great motivation to continue working hard and we will continue to work together to win more titles. I wanted to end with some words for young girls around the world: believe in yourselves.”
Ada Hergerberg
Women's Ballon d'Or winner 2018