Who is Lena Selnes? Sørloth's partner speaks out after online abuse
Following Norway's loss to England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, striker Alexander Sørloth and his partner Lena Selnes faced severe online abuse. Selnes has publicly called for an end to the harassment, highlighting the toxic nature of fan reactions on social media.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the growing problem of online harassment directed at athletes and their families, prompting discussions about social media accountability.
Norway striker Alexander Sørloth has found himself at the center of a social media storm after his country’s heartbreaking 2-1 extra-time loss to England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final. The criticism began after a missed chance late in the first half, but it quickly went far beyond football. Thousands of angry messages were directed at Sørloth online, and the abuse soon spread to his partner, Lena Selnes. Sharing screenshots of some of the messages she received, Selnes urged people to think before posting hurtful comments and threats on social media. Why Alexander Sørloth and Lena Selnes became targets after Norway’s World Cup exitThe reaction followed one of the biggest moments of Norway’s match against England. With Norway leading 1-0 before halftime, Alexander Sørloth broke forward with Erling Haaland in a dangerous two-on-one attack. Many fans felt he should have passed to Haaland, who was in space.
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