Norway striker Alexander Sørloth has been subjected to a wave of online abuse, including death threats, following his country’s elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the hands of England in the quarter-finals.
The abuse came after Norway’s defeat on Saturday in Miami, where Sørloth missed a crucial opportunity while his team held a 1-0 lead. Instead of passing to teammate Erling Haaland, who was in a better scoring position, the Atlético Madrid forward opted to shoot, with the chance ultimately going to waste.
Disturbing Messages Shared Online
Sørloth’s partner, Lena Selnes, shared screenshots on Instagram revealing some of the messages the couple received after the match.
Among the abusive comments were messages urging the striker to take his own life, while others called for him to leave Norway. One message reportedly contained a direct death threat.
Partner Condemns Online Hate
Reacting to the abuse, Selnes condemned the toxic behavior directed at the player, saying football should unite fans rather than fuel hatred.
“World Cup football brings joy, but it also brings a lot of hate,” she wrote. “I didn’t really want to give these messages attention, but after reading the comments, I felt I had to.”
The incident has once again highlighted the growing problem of online harassment targeting professional athletes, particularly following high-profile matches, with football authorities and player advocacy groups continuing to call for stronger measures to combat abuse on social media.
