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 exit
The 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. Instead, Sørloth tried to create a shooting opportunity himself, but England defender John Stones blocked the effort.England later came back to level the match and eventually won 2-1 after extra time. After the defeat, Sørloth’s social media accounts were flooded with criticism. According to reports from Reuters and Norwegian outlet VG, one of his recent Instagram posts received more than 100,000 comments, with many containing insults and threats. Lena Selnes revealed that she also received disturbing messages. Posting screenshots on Instagram, she said football can bring happiness but can also bring a great deal of hate. She asked people to think carefully before writing such comments, regardless of the result of a match. Reports said some of the messages included threats aimed at Sørloth. Sørloth later explained that he had wanted to pass to Haaland but felt the passing lane was blocked by Stones. In that split second, he believed shooting was his only option. Norway coach Ståle Solbakken also condemned the abuse, calling it tragic and saying players should stay away from social media during emotional moments.
Who is Lena Selnes? Inside her relationship with Alexander Sørloth
Lena Selnes has been part of Alexander Sørloth’s life for more than a decade. The couple started dating in 2015 when Sørloth was still at the beginning of his professional career.Since then, she has supported him through several moves across Europe as he played in different countries and leagues. Whether it was a club presentation, a major transfer, or an international tournament with Norway, Selnes has regularly been by his side.The couple welcomed their daughter, Emma, in 2023. Family has remained a big part of Sørloth’s journey, including during important career moments such as his move to Atletico Madrid. Selnes was also in the United States supporting Norway during the 2026 World Cup campaign.While Sørloth’s missed chance against England became one of the tournament’s most talked-about moments, the response from Selnes shifted attention to a wider issue, how criticism of athletes can turn into personal attacks on their families.
