Graham Hansen in a duel with Tomine Svendheim and Sara Ritter in the match against Brann. Photo: Alejandro Garcia / EPA / NTB
Several experts now believe that Caroline Graham Hansen should be the favorite for the Ballon d’Or.
Friday 29 March at 01:28
The short version
- Experts believe Norwegian Caroline Graham Hansen may be the favorite for the Ballon d’Or after impressive performances for Barcelona.
- Graham Hansen (29) received a lot of attention from Spanish newspapers after the match against Brann.
- TV 2’s expert Ingrid Ryland thinks she deserves the Ballon d’Or.
- Barcelona and Graham Hansen meet Chelsea with Guro Reiten and Maren Mjelde in the Champions League semi-final.
Sea view
– The only way to stop her was when they shoveled her down.
Sivert Heltne Nilsen is known for his hard tackles himself, but on Thursday he sat in the studio at TV 2 and allowed himself to be impressed by Caroline Graham Hansen.
Brann was a few notches too small against the giants from Barcelona, and perhaps most setting the tone was a Norwegian 29-year-old.
The Spanish newspapers have also picked up on the achievement.
Do you remember this?
“Aitana and Graham were unstoppable,” writes the major newspaper AS.
“Graham was electric and played with energy, although she lacked some accuracy in front of goal. She was one of the most active throughout the match,” writes Marca.
“Barcelona did a lot of damage on the right with Graham and Aitana taking care of the ball and looking for space”, writes Mundo Deportivo, who have also learned that the Brann fans held a pipe concert against Graham Hansen.
Now Graham Hansen is predicted to be in the game when the next Ballon d’or, another term for the Ballon d’Or, an award given to the world‘s best footballer, is to be awarded, after a season completely out of the ordinary:
– She dances. Her rhythm is unparalleled. She is so incredibly good. Then we hope to see her more often like this in the national team, says TV 2’s expert Ingrid Ryland, who is clear to VG that she believes Graham Hansen should be the favorite for the Golden Ball now.
– She is a ball artist. She is the world‘s best one-on-one offensively. In addition, she delivers assists and scores goals with both legs, says Ryland.
On Wednesday, the sports newspaper L’Esportiu had a cover photo of the Norwegian star with the text “This year, yes?”.
Thore Haugstad writes about football for NRK.
“Caroline Graham Hansen is the best female soccer player in the world. When will she get the tribute she deserves? (…) Neither in Norway nor abroad does it seem that people understand what Graham Hansen accomplishes”, he writes for the state channel.
“Although she didn’t score today, Graham Hansen was the key for the second and third goals. She was a constant threat down the right flank. Dynamic, creating turmoil and in a class of its own in one-on-one duels. I insist: Ballon d’Or,” writes journalist Mauricio Prial.
Barcelona and Graham Hansen meet Chelsea in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
PS. Ada Hegerberg won the very first Ballon d’Or awarded on the women’s side, back in 2018.