Rikke Madsen’s boyfriend pops the question after dream Everton return
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LIVERPOOL – Everton forward Rikke Madsen had a memorable return to action after more than a year, capping off her comeback with a surprise on-pitch proposal from her boyfriend Martin Thomsen after her side’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on March 22.
The 27-year-old Madsen came off the bench in the second half of the Women’s Super League clash, marking her return after giving birth to her daughter Fritsen in October.
As her teammates celebrated the victory, the Denmark international was surprised when her partner Thomsen walked onto the pitch with their newborn baby and flowers, before getting down on one knee to propose.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long now, a year. Ever since becoming pregnant, I’ve been aiming to get back as quick as possible,” Madsen told the BBC.
“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.”
The Denmark international said that since her last appearance for Everton on March 10, 2024, she was uncertain as to when she might return to the pitch.
The forward will now remember her comeback as one of the happiest days of her life.
“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 all right,” she said.
Her “Yes!” answer was met with celebrations and cheers from the crowd and the onlooking Toffees, who were already buzzing after goals from Justine Vanhaevermaet, Sara Holmgaard and Kelly Gago secured three points for the hosts at Walton Hall Park.
It was their fifth of the season, and lifted coach Brian Sorensen’s side above Tottenham Hotspur and up to seventh in the WSL table, while Palace, they remain rooted to the bottom in 12th on nine points. REUTERS
