Playing for Two: My Fight for Motherhood and Football

Growing up in Iceland

I was born in 1990 in Iceland, a country where the weather is rough but the community is strong. Football wasn’t always the obvious path for a girl, but I loved it from the first kick. My parents supported me, my coaches pushed me, and soon I was dreaming bigger than the small pitches of my hometown.

Football became my passport to the world. It took me from Iceland to Sweden, to Germany, and eventually to France, playing for Olympique Lyonnais—the best women’s club in the world. I was living the dream I once thought impossible.

Reaching the top with Lyon

Playing for Lyon was a privilege. Surrounded by world-class players, competing in the Champions League, winning titles—it was everything I had worked for.

In 2020, I helped the team win the UEFA Women’s Champions League. To stand on that stage, lifting the trophy, was a moment of pure joy. It felt like confirmation that all the sacrifices—leaving home, endless training, constant travel—had been worth it.

Discovering I was pregnant

Then life changed. In 2021, I found out I was pregnant. I was overjoyed—becoming a mother was something I had always wanted. But at the same time, I knew it would be a challenge. Could I really combine motherhood with being a professional footballer?

I believed I could. But I quickly realized that not everyone around me shared that belief.

The battle off the pitch

During my pregnancy, I expected my club to support me. Instead, I faced silence and resistance. Payments stopped, and suddenly I was fighting for something I never thought I would have to fight for: the basic right to be supported during maternity.

It was heartbreaking. Here I was, a Champions League winner, a loyal player, and yet when I chose to start a family, I felt abandoned. I knew it wasn’t just about me—it was about every female footballer who might want to become a mother in the future.

So I decided to take action. I brought my case to FIFA.

Winning the FIFA case

Standing up to one of the biggest clubs in the world wasn’t easy. I was nervous, scared even. But I knew I was doing the right thing.

When FIFA ruled in my favor, it was bigger than a personal victory. It was a victory for all women in football. The decision confirmed that clubs cannot just ignore players when they are pregnant, and it set a precedent that will protect others in the future.

I felt proud, but also relieved. My fight had meaning beyond myself.

Returning to the pitch

In 2022, after giving birth to my son, I returned to training. The first sessions were tough—my body had changed, my stamina was different, and I had to be patient with myself. But slowly, step by step, I came back.

At the UEFA Women’s Euro in 2022, I played again for Iceland. Standing on the pitch, wearing my national team jersey after everything I had been through, I felt stronger than ever. Not just as a footballer, but as a mother, as a woman who refused to give up.

Balancing motherhood and football

Life today is a balance. I am a professional athlete, but also a mother. I travel, I train, I compete—but I also change diapers, read bedtime stories, and carry my son on my hip.

It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. Every time I look at him, I remember why I fought so hard. And every time I step on the pitch, I know I am showing him—and all children—that women can be both athletes and mothers, without having to choose.

Redefining victory

For me, winning no longer means just lifting trophies. It means changing the game off the pitch as well. My fight with Lyon and my victory at FIFA were not the moments I dreamed of as a child—but they are just as important as any medal.

Because sport should be about more than goals and titles. It should be about fairness, respect, and the chance for everyone to live fully—both as athletes and as human beings.

Looking ahead

I am still playing, still competing, still chasing victories. But I am also aware that my story is part of something bigger. If one young player feels braver about becoming a mother one day because of me, then my legacy is already written.

The next chapter is still being written, but one thing is certain: I will keep playing—for myself, for my son, and for every woman who refuses to be told that she must choose between career and family.

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