Erling Braut Haaland has been awarded the 2020 Norwegian Ballon d'Or awarded by the Norwegian Football Federation to the best player of the year. Borussia Dortmund striker succeeds compatriot Martin Odegaard as best Norwegian footballer of the year. The Real Madrid midfielder conquered him in 2019.
Haaland, at 20, has received the award a few days after also being awarded the Golden Boy 2020, which is delivered by the newspaper Tuttosport. “It's great and something that I value very much. I'm very proud and it shows that I'm doing something right. I'm smiling now. It is good that they recognize that you have done something good with these prices. First of all, I want to win something with my team, but it's also good to get individual awards “said the Norwegian forward on the website of the Norwegian football federation.
“They have been a couple of beautiful moments, from the debut in the League with Dortmund to the debut in the Champions League with Dortmund and the hat-trick with Norway,” explained Haaland about his best performances in this rare 2020. The Borussia player beat two other great players: Jens Petter Hauge (Milan) and Alexander Sørloth (Leipzig).
Caroline Graham Hansen, female winner
The Federation also awarded Barcelona player Caroline Graham Hansen as the best Norwegian footballer of the year. Second consecutive prize for the extreme culé. “It's amazing to be graceful. It has been a special year and I can only say thank you. It was great to win La Liga with Barcelona. It was a highlight. Also, we have had few but good experiences on tour with the national team, which I really appreciate, “Hansen said, following the announcement of the 2020 award.
Great year for the Barcelona footballer, who was already in the ideal eleven of the 2019-2020 Champions League, in addition to being in the shortlist of candidates for The Best female award that was finally won by the British defender Lucy Bronze. Hansen beat Maren Mjelde (Chelsea) and Ingrid Syrstad Engen (Wolfsburg), who were also nominated for the Norwegian Ballon d'Or.