BY Issah Olegor
Norway striker Alexander Sørloth has become the target of shocking online abuse and death threats following his country’s heartbreaking elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with his partner revealing the disturbing messages sent to the Atlético Madrid forward after the quarter-final defeat to England.
The abuse followed Norway’s dramatic 2-1 extra-time loss to England in Miami, where the Scandinavian side came within minutes of reaching the World Cup semi-finals before Jude Bellingham inspired the Three Lions to a comeback victory.
The controversy centres on a crucial moment during the match when Norway, leading 1-0, launched a dangerous counterattack. With star striker Erling Haaland available in space, many supporters believed Sørloth should have passed the ball to his teammate instead of attempting to score himself.
However, Sørloth elected to shoot, only to see his effort blocked by the England defence. Just three minutes later, England equalised through Jude Bellingham before completing the comeback in extra time to book a place in the semi-finals.
Following Norway’s elimination, Sørloth’s partner, Lena Selnes, disclosed that the striker had been subjected to a wave of abusive and threatening messages on social media.
Sharing screenshots of some of the comments, Selnes revealed that the messages included death threats and calls for the player to take his own life.
Among the disturbing comments were messages reading: “Please commit suicide, you idiot,” “Tell your man that he should leave Norway,” “Jump off a cliff,” and “I will kill him.”
Condemning the abuse, Selnes said football should unite supporters rather than encourage hatred.
“The World Cup and football bring joy, but also a lot of hatred. I don’t really want to give this much attention, but I have to after reading these comments,” she said.
The incident has once again highlighted the growing problem of online abuse directed at footballers following major tournaments.
Players across the world have increasingly become targets of insults, racist attacks and threats after costly mistakes or disappointing results, prompting football authorities and anti-discrimination organisations to call for stronger action against offenders.
Despite the criticism, Sørloth had been one of Norway’s key players throughout the tournament, helping the nation reach the World Cup quarter-finals before their memorable campaign ended against England.
The Atlético Madrid striker has since admitted he could have made a better decision during the decisive counterattack, but the backlash has sparked widespread condemnation from many within the football community, who insist that no sporting mistake should ever result in threats against a player’s life.
