In the world of sports, Norway punches above its weight with world-famous footballers, athletes, and Olympic Gold medallists. But which ones rank the highest?
Every year, VG’s highly anticipated 100-list recognises the biggest names in Norwegian sports. The rankings are based on international achievements, the prominence of the sport, personal growth, fanbase size, and star power.
VG’s 100-list, now in its 29th year, celebrates the very best in Norwegian sports, ranking athletes based on their global achievements and influence. This annual tradition not only honours established stars but also highlights emerging talents who have captured the nation’s attention.
Legendary names like Ole Einar Bjørndalen and Bjørn Dæhlie dominated in its early years, reflecting Norway’s strength in winter sports.
In recent times, the list has evolved to showcase diverse talents, including Magnus Carlsen’s chess supremacy, Karsten Warholm’s record-breaking sprints, and Erling Braut Haaland’s goal-scoring feats in football.
It won’t come as a surprise that footballers Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard made the 2024 list, as did some athletes that starred in the Paris Olympics. But there’s also plenty of names mostly unknown to an international audience.
We won’t list all 100. Instead, we highlight the top 20 athletes of 2024 who represent the best of Norwegian sports. Did your favourite make the list? Read on, then let us know down in the comments.
20. Therese Johaug (Cross-country Skiing)
Following a retirement in which she gave birth to her daughter, Therese Johaug made a triumphant return to competitive skiing with a series of victories in 2024, including her 83rd career World Cup win.
Before her comeback, she spoke of her fear: “I've been out of the game for two seasons, I've been pregnant, given birth and life is different in comparison to when I was competing before. You get more tired; things take more of your power and it is not the same to leave your home to go travelling when you might not see your daughter for several days.”
Looking ahead to 2025, she is poised for a strong performance at the upcoming World Championships in Trondheim.
19. Antonio Nusa (Football)
Dubbed the “Norwegian Neymar,” Nusa excelled for RB Leipzig, delivering impressive performances in both club and international football despite his dislike for the nickname.
He almost joined Brentford but must be pleased with his decision to head to the Bundesliga following a series of performances that has caught the attention of Europe’s elite. While Leipzig started the season strong, they’ve begun to struggle but that doesn’t seem to be slowing Nusa’s progress.
18. Stine Oftedal Dahmke (Handball)
A stellar year saw Oftedal win the Champions League and Olympic gold while earning a spot on the All-Star team. She also celebrated her retirement from international handball with a flawless final performance, and also found time to get married.
17. Anders Mol & Christian Sørum (Beach Volleyball)
Overcoming injury challenges, the duo clinched bronze at the Paris Olympics and continued to dominate the World Tour, securing their third consecutive series title.
16. Henny Reistad (Handball)
Crowned the world’s best female handball player, Reistad played a pivotal role in Norway’s Olympic gold and European Championship victories, finishing as top scorer in both tournaments.
15. Tommy Urhaug (Table Tennis)
Urhaug claimed Norway’s sole Paralympic Gold, defeating a strong opponent from Taiwan in a thrilling comeback victory.
It was Urhaug’s second Paralympic Gold following victory in London 2012, and adds to his impressive tally of four World Championship Golds and nine European Championship Golds.
14. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (Cross-country Skiing)
Trondheim-based Johannes Høsflot Klæbo continued his dominance in sprint events. He reached several career milestones in 2024, including becoming the first male skier with 100 World Cup podium finishes.
Klæbø, who has won five Olympic Golds, is an active user of social media and has a big following across the globe. His Instagram account alone has 441,000 followers at the time of writing.
13. Mats Zuccarello (Ice Hockey)
Mats Zuccarello surpassed 200 career NHL goals and returned to the World Championships for Norway after an eight-year absence, further solidifying his legacy in the sport.
In an interview with Life in Norway, Zuccarello spoke of his fondness for life in the United States: “The fans and the state of hockey is one of the big reasons I signed for Minnesota.”
12. Karsten Warholm (Athletics)
Norwegian athlete Karsten Warholm added a third consecutive European Championship gold to his resume, setting a championship record and reaffirming his position as a 400m hurdles legend.
Warholm is an active user of social media and has also starred in several advertisements within Norway over the past year.
11. Johannes Thingnes Bø (Biathlon)
With three individual World Championship gold medals and his fifth overall World Cup title, Bø matched Ole Einar Bjørndalen’s record of 20 World Championship wins. His main goal for the next two years is to surpass Bjørndalen.
10. Solfrid Koanda (Weightlifting)
Koanda made history with an Olympic gold medal and an Olympic record in Paris, marking her as a trailblazer in Norwegian women’s weightlifting. It was Norway’s first ever Gold in women’s weightlifting.
Her surprise and shock at winning—especially just four years after starting the sport—instantly endeared her to the Norwegian public, and to fans of the Olympics around the world.
She chose to miss the World Championships in December to focus on next year’s World Championships in Førde.
9. Viktor Hovland (Golf)
In 2024, Viktor Hovland maintained his position as one of the world’s top golfers. He achieved a strong third-place finish at the PGA Championship despite injuries later in the year.
As the first Norwegian to win on the PGA Tour (at the 2020 Puerto Rico Open) and on the European Tour (at the 2021 BMW International Open), he is a popular figure in Norway despite the sport not being widely watched or played.
8. Katrine Lunde (Handball)
The veteran goalkeeper shone in Norway’s Gold-winning Olympic campaign, earning the title of the tournament’s most valuable player with an exceptional save percentage of 42%. She is the only woman with three gold medals in the Summer Olympics.
7. Casper Ruud (Tennis)
Although Casper Ruud didn’t reach a Grand Slam final in 2024, he captured two ATP titles and achieved notable victories over Djokovic and Alcaraz during an up-and-down season.
6. Magnus Carlsen (Chess)
Magnus Carlsen continued to dominate the chess world, reclaiming the World Rapid and Blitz Chess titles, proving his mastery across formats. Carlsen has held the title of world number one in classical chess continuously since 2011 and remains far from being overtaken.
His impact on the game worldwide has been incredible, but even more so in Norway, where he has inspired a new generation of chess players and brought unprecedented attention to the sport, espcially among children.
5. Caroline Graham Hansen (Football)
Hansen enjoyed a record-breaking season with FC Barcelona, scoring 21 goals and assisting 19, leading the club to a Champions League title and achieving personal milestones. In December, she reached 50 goals for the Norwegian national team.
Were it not for her Barcelona teammate Aitana Bonmatí, Hansen would’ve won the Ballon d’Or for world’s best player.
4. Martin Ødegaard (Football)
As Arsenal’s captain, Martin Ødegaard delivered a standout season, earning a spot on the Premier League’s Team of the Year. He became a father in December.
The Norwegian national team captain is a very popular figure among the Arsenal fans, and was voted the club’s Player of the Season by the club’s fans.
3. Markus Rooth (Athletics)
The decathlete captured hearts with his unexpected gold medal at the Paris Olympics, demonstrating extraordinary versatility and resilience across ten events. He set personal bests in 100m, 400m, discus, pole vault, and the javelin on his way to the title.
Despite having to withdraw mid-way through the European Championships in Rome with injury, he’s gone on to become one of the most popular sporting figures in Norway.
2. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Athletics)
Jakob Ingebrigtsen solidified his status as one of the world’s best middle-distance runners, breaking the 3,000m world record and adding more European Championship gold medals to his collection.
With multiple European golds, an Olympic title, and a world record in the 3000m, he is a national hero, inspiring Norwegians with his resilience, precision, and groundbreaking achievements, despite the family drama.
1. Erling Braut Haaland (Football)
For the third consecutive year, Erling Haaland tops VG’s list, continuing to shatter scoring records for Manchester City and the Norwegian national team.
Despite recent challenges, his unparalleled goal-scoring ability and team leadership kept him at the pinnacle of Norwegian sport.
The Dominance of Erling Braut Haaland
The achievements of Erling Haaland in 2024 exemplify his consistency and growth as one of the world’s premier footballers. Scoring 38 goals in 45 matches for Manchester City last season, he helped secure their fourth consecutive Premier League title.
Haaland also etched his name into the record books by surpassing Jørgen Juve’s longstanding goal record for the Norwegian national team.
In international club football, Haaland nears a remarkable 50 Champions League goals at just 24 years old. His acrobatic strikes, such as his backheel goal against Sparta Praha, have left fans and analysts in awe.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola emphasised Haaland’s importance, noting his resilience and availability throughout a challenging season for the team.
National team manager Ståle Solbakken praised Haaland’s commitment to improvement, highlighting his physical and mental preparation as key factors in his sustained success. Solbakken remarked, “Erling doesn’t rest on his laurels; he’s always looking ahead.”
Haaland himself acknowledged the strong competition in Norwegian sports this year, stating, “The level of talent in Norway is incredible, which makes this recognition even more special.”
Looking ahead to 2025, Haaland must overcome a difficult spell, not just for him personally but for the entire Manchester City team.
