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Everton forward Rikke Madsen enjoyed a memorable return to match action after playing her first game in over a year.The 27-year-old made her first appearance since March 2024, coming off the bench in Everton’s 3-0 Women’s Super League (WSL) win over Crystal Palace on Saturday, and the post-match “twist” made the day even sweeter.
Madsen celebrated with her team-mates and her young daughter after the whistle before her partner, Martin Thomsen, surprised her by proposing.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long now, a year,” Madsen told the BBC after the match. “Ever since becoming pregnant I’ve been aiming to get back as quick as possible.
“Today my little baby is turning five months so it is so nice to be back. Ending off with my boyfriend asking me to marry him, that was a little twist — I did not expect that.
“A very happy day. I had no idea I was going to come on and I had especially no idea he was going to propose to me. The first thing I said to the other girls was that I hate surprises, but this one was alright.”
The Denmark international signed for Everton in January 2024. She previously played for National Women’s Soccer League side North Carolina Courage, and has experience in Denmark, Norway, Spain and Australia.
Madsen made seven appearances for Everton in her debut season and announced that she was pregnant in May last year. She gave birth to her daughter in October.
Justine Vanhaevermaet opened the scoring at Walton Hall Park before goals from Sara Holmgaard and Kelly Gago gave Everton a comfortable win over the WSL’s bottom side.
Everton are seventh in the league and return to action with a trip to Manchester United next Sunday.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Everton, North Carolina Courage, NWSL, UK Women's Football
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