Ada Hegerberg exclusive: 'Little village' Lyon are far from finished as Ballon d'Or winner eyes another Women's Champions League title by taking down all-conquering Barcelona

When Lyon and Barca met in the final two years ago, there was a feeling that all the talk on the outside was about the Catalans, who were going for back-to-back titles after winning their first 12 months prior. Understandably, it didn’t sit particularly well with those representing a side which had won a seventh European crown only a year before that their achievements were being overlooked in some cases.

Two years on, as the two prepare to face off again, the narrative feels different, especially after Lyon beat Barca in the 2022 final. However, Hegerberg still doesn’t think OL's incredible dynasty is “talked about enough”.

“I know it feeds the club. I know it feeds the players,” she tells GOAL. “That's the most important thing. Every year, we start fresh. But we know the history we have and honestly, as long as it feeds us and makes us prepared to go again and again and again, that's what's most important. Let the football talk in the end, because that's what counts.”

Perhaps it is that recency bias that is so often seen in all sports, perhaps it is because Barca’s rise has coincided with a huge growth in visibility for the women’s game or perhaps it is because some people genuinely believed Lyon’s time was coming to an end. Regardless, the French giants certainly reminded everyone of their quality when they won the Champions League in 2022, and they have done the same again with their run to this year’s final.

Another match-up with Barca awaits, the third time they will meet on this grand stage, and it is Lyon with the psychological edge after triumphing in those previous two meetings. The Catalans are more experienced than ever in their bid to finally get one over OL, though, and you could argue that this is their best squad to date. It’s all playing its part in creating an incredible new rivalry, one which will push both teams to get even better. “At the moment, you can say it's the two best teams in Europe,” Hegerberg believes. “It's as easy as that.”

Despite what might’ve been said on the outside over the years, there is plenty of respect between these two incredible teams, too. “I think greats recognise greats. It’s always been like that,” Hegerberg says.

That much was certainly apparent when the striker sat down with Barcelona winger Caroline Graham Hansen for UEFA’s latest Rivalhood episode. “You have a packed team with fantastic players,” Hegerberg told her Norway team-mate. “I have a long history with Irene Paredes, because she used to play in PSG. I feel like we had a lot of battles during the years. She’s very tough to play against, but we have a great relationship outside the pitch, as it should be.”

“I've never talked with Selma Bacha but I've played against her a lot and it's always super tough,” Graham Hansen responded, previewing the battle with the Lyon full-back. “I love how she plays. I will probably face her one-on-one the whole game.”

“I catch up with Caro during the season,” Hegerberg tells GOAL. “We like to re-watch our games. But obviously, from both sides, before a game like this, we don't speak at all, which is completely normal and that's how it should be. Then we promised each other one thing, that the loser gets an assist or two from the other, hopefully, in the national-team break. But now it's all about winning for the respective teams and that is all that counts at the moment.

“She's had a top season,” she adds of the Barca winger. “Let's hope that she's not in the best form of her life on Saturday! But I'm happy for her because she's been brilliant.”

Over the years, there have been plenty of rumours suggesting that Hegerberg could even join Graham Hansen in Barcelona, with the Catalans reportedly holding interest in the striker on a number of occasions. However, all speculation was put to rest last month when the 28-year-old signed a new three-year deal in Lyon.

“I felt like I wasn't done in Lyon,” Hegerberg explains. “The most important thing was for me to be in a place where I feel I can get the best out of myself and win as many titles as possible. There was no doubt from the beginning. It took some time to get where we wanted but I must say I have a huge amount of gratefulness towards Michele [Kang, majority owner] and Vincent Ponsot [CEO of OL Feminin] who basically made it impossible for me to even consider something else, because they showed a will to keep me that made it clear to me that I'm here to stay another three years, which is crazy. That means almost my whole career in Lyon - and then we'll see after that.”

There are a lot of reasons why the future for Lyon remains exciting and a quick look through the squad will give you one. Hegerberg, with six European titles at 28 years old, is just one example of an experienced star with plenty of years ahead of her - Selma Bacha’s four titles at 23 years old is another good case, while seven-time European champion Wendie Renard shows no signs of slowing down at 33. “I do think we have a lot of football left in the whole team,” Hegerberg says.

The young players coming through in this team are another reason. Alice Sombath, at 20, continues to impress with her composure as an emerging centre-back option; Vicki Becho, also 20, keeps seeing her minutes increase as a lively and versatile asset in the forward line; while Liana Joseph, who has received a handful of first-team opportunities at 17 years old, looks to be a star for the future.

But while Hegerberg was sidelined due to injury during the Champions League semi-finals, losing her voice a couple of times as a “definitely not calm” onlooker, it was Melchie Dumornay, the 20-year-old Haiti international, who shone and helped Lyon beat PSG to secure a place in the final. “Melchie is incredible,” Hegerberg says. “I think she has something special.” With so many stars having plenty of years ahead of them, it’s hard to see Lyon going away.

The same goes for Hegerberg, too. After all, she’s only 28, which means the next few years are what would be seen as a striker’s prime. Does she feel like there’s even more to come from herself? “Yeah, I do,” she replies. “I know where I'm at and what I'm capable of. I think the next years can possibly be the best years of my career, without doubt. I was already on it this season but I'm here to stay in the top for the future as well. That's what I'm working hard for every day.

“I don't take anything for granted. I know that during many years, I was at 30-40 goals a season so I felt like I set the standards quite high. But I know what I'm capable of and I feel like every time I have come back from my injuries, I've shown what level I have inside me. That's what I'm eager to show in the next years as well.”

If you’re a defender anywhere else in Europe, it must be a scary thought - the all-time top goal-scorer in Women's Champions League history, a player with 24 major trophies to her name in a decade at Lyon, hitting new heights. Yet, Hegerberg’s motivation to do that is evident when she speaks, and it’s clear that the whole team has that same drive to continue to make history.

“I've heard a couple of quotes about the downfall of Lyon in many, many years, but we always show that it's quite the opposite, really,” Hegerberg reflects. “I think with the history we have, there's some talking that should be avoided, but at the same time, what counts for us is to be present year in and year out. There's no one that can match the history of Lyon in this competition, so that's what counts. But it's all about the next one and that's what has kept us winning all these years.”

The next one is on Saturday, against Barcelona again, in what is sure to be a hostile environment at San Mames in Bilbao. But Hegerberg and Lyon are ready for it. “Being able to recreate success is, to me, what makes some players the best in history,” she says. She and her team-mates are out to do that for the ninth time as OL’s incredible dynasty shows no signs of crumbling.