The elimination of Norway in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup led to an episode that generated a strong commotion. AlexanderSørloth was at the center of criticism for a missed opportunity against England and, after the match, received hate messages and even threats suggesting he take his own life.
It was his partner, Lena Selnes, who made the situation public by sharing on her social media screenshots of some of the messages that arrived after the defeat. "Kill yourself, idiot" and "Jump off a cliff" were some of the phrases she exposed.
The threatening messages Sørloth received after his controversial play
Along with the images, Selnes expressed her outrage and called for reflection on the limits of criticism in sports. "The World Cup and football bring a lot of joy, but also a lot of hate. I actually didn't want to give it any attention, but I needed to after comments like these. I hope everyone can think a little more before making these kinds of comments, regardless of the situation", she wrote.
The origin of the controversy was a play at the end of the first half, when Norway was leading 1-0. Martin Odegaard set Sørloth up in front of the goal with Erling Haaland completely unmarked to receive the pass. However, the Atlético Madrid forward decided to continue the play on his own, delayed the shot, and his attempt was blocked by the English defense. Just a few minutes later, Jude Bellingham scored the equalizer that changed the course of the match.
After the match, Sørloth explained why he did not assist his teammate. "I take a touch, look up, and see that Stones is blocking the pass. Then I take another touch. I wait for him to make a move instead of me forcing him to do it. All I wanted was to pass it to Erling, but when I saw I couldn't, I shot", he stated.
The episode was also condemned by Norway's coach, Ståle Solbakken, who lamented the level of aggression that exists on social media. The coach described what happened as a "tragic"situation and advised players, especially younger ones, to stay away from these platforms to protect themselves from this type of attack.
According to reports, Selnes is considering taking legal action against those responsible for the intimidating messages, in a new case of digital violence against athletes after a high-stakes competition.
