Norway's Ada Hegerberg's return to international football after 5-year protest

England are set to take on Norway tonight (July 11) in their second group game of the Women's Euro 2022.

The Lionesses came out victorious in their opening match of the tournament as they continued their unbeaten run to win 1-0 against Austria at Old Trafford.

Tonight's match will see either Norway or England take the top spot in Group A.

Norway also had a successful first match as they thrashed Northern Ireland 4-1.

It looks like the competition is heating up for England as they take on the two-time European champions - and one woman who could get in their way is Norway's star player Ada Hegerberg.

Here's everything you need to know about the striker and her return to the international game after five years.

Who is Ada Hegerberg?

Ada Hegerberg is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a striker for the Division 1 Féminine club Lyon as well as the Norway national team.

The 26-year-old made her footballing debut when she was just 15 and became the top scorer in the country's top division when she was just 16.

In 2013, 18-year-old Hegerberg made the move to Germany to join Turbine Potsdam. She scored 11 goals in her 25 appearances in the first season.

In 2014 Ada continued her fantastic career with a move to France as she joined Olympique Lyonnais.

She scored a jaw-dropping 26 goals in 22 league games.

In 2018 she became the first ever winner of the Ballon d'Or Feminin.

Hegerberg made her senior debut for Norway in 2011 and she became a pivotal part of the team that reached the Euro 2013 final.

But in 2017 she resigned from her international career in protest.

Why did Ada Hegerberg stop playing for Norway?

Despite finishing as runners up in the 2013 Euro the Norwegian national team had an embarrassing loss in the 2017 European Championship, which saw them crash out with three defeats in three games and no goals.

Following this, Hegerberg announced that she'd be stepping down from the national team in protest.

Ada had a dispute with the Norwegian Football Federation over the treatment of women's football in the country.

She had become frustrated at what she saw as a lack of support for the women's team and the development of women's football in Norway.

So, Norway's star player refused to play for five years.

Speaking to Norwegian newspaper Morgenbladet and football magazine Josimar about quitting the Norwegian national team, Hegerberg said: "It was tough at so many camps. I have been broken mentally,

"It has been a deeply depressing feeling. I had nightmares after being with the national team, you shouldn't have things like that. If you want to get anywhere in life you have to make choices.

"Immediately the thought came into my mind - 'I think I'll have to stop playing for the national team'. [Then] everything just ran off and I started to sleep well again."

Ada Hegerberg returns to international football

It looks like Hegerberg's actions did help in leading towards change for the women's game in Norway.

The NFF has since introduced equal pay for male and female players who represent the country.

As well as this, the remuneration pot for the women's team has doubled.

Now, Hegerberg is making her return and will be looking to make up for lost time.

Speaking to UEFA about her decision to return, she said: "Coming back was a huge thing for me. I felt it was the right time.

"Obviously, it was not a decision that happened overnight either, but I always have good dialogues with Lise Klaveness, who is the president of the Norwegian Football Federation.

"I'm very happy to be back with the girls. I'm very happy to see all these young kids but also older people in the stands."