Lena Oberdorf: A torn cruciate ligament sabotages EM dreams in Ibiza!

Lena Oberdorf: A torn cruciate ligament sabotages EM dreams in Ibiza!

At a time when football is considered the most beautiful thing in the world, there are always challenges that keep the players in focus. This currently affects the talented midfielder Lena Oberdorf, who is facing a bitter setback before the 2025 Women's European Championship in Switzerland. How Mercury reports, Oberdorf will not take part in the European Championships because she has not yet fully recovered from a torn cruciate ligament that she suffered last year.

The 21-year-old is currently enjoying her vacation in Ibiza and is sharing impressive insights from her stay on Instagram. However, the question remains: What will happen next with her career? National coach Christian Wück announced that the decision to forego Oberdorf was made after intensive analyzes of her training impressions. "The European Championships come too early for her. We want to give her time to fully prepare," said Wück.

The challenges in women's football

Lena Oberdorf's situation also sheds light on the general conditions in women's football. Oberdorf herself said in a previous interview that many of her colleagues in England can live on their salary, which is not the case in Germany. These salary differences have a direct impact on the training and playing conditions of the players. BR also reports that only a handful of clubs in Germany, such as Bayern Munich, Wolfsburg and Frankfurt, can offer the girls consistently professional conditions.

This aspect is further highlighted by the overwhelming salary differences between men and women. According to a study, male Bayern Munich players earned an average of $160,800 per week in the 2018/2019 season, while the average annual salary for female players in the women's Bundesliga was just $43,730. It's no secret that men earn far more in a year than women can earn in the same period. Even the bonuses at major tournaments like the World Cup show this clear imbalance kununu has investigated.

A look at the future

But there is hope! UEFA predicts the fan base in women's football will double by 2033, which could signal a positive development for equality in sport. However, it remains unclear how quickly income conditions will improve. Many players, like Oberdorf, have to continue to fight until they reach equality.

Lena Oberdorf is at a turning point in her career. After moving to FC Bayern a year ago, she has yet to play a single competitive game for the Munich team. The club was already skeptical as to whether the nomination for the European Championship would make sense. The DFB and FC Bayern are working closely together to find the best possible solution for the talented player.

How will Lena Oberdorf's situation develop? One thing is certain: the coming months will be crucial, not only for her personal career, but also for the visibility and development of women's football in Germany as a whole.