At just 22-years-old Lena Oberdorf has already made a name for herself as one of the best midfielders in women’s football. And although she has the game on lock as a No.6, Oberdorf is the No.1 young baller on the scene right now. 

Her 2022 Euros performance earned Oberdorf the Young Player award as well as a spot on the Team of the Tournament. She might have been a runner-up that summer but she's been running up clinics ever since. 

The three-time DFB-Pokal Frauen winner made headlines earlier this year when she penned a new contract to join German Giants, Bayern Munich, in the summer - a transfer that’s already got the opps shaking in their boots. The move was reportedly the most expensive one ever made by a German club for a homegrown player. And although they say "money talks" there's something that speaks a lot louder than decimal points when it comes to Oberdorf: her unmatched skill.

VERSUS linked up with Lena Oberdorf to discuss why players need to protect their energy off the pitch, what sets her generation a part from the rest and what it feels like going from wearing your brother’s boots to being an adidas 'Generation Pred' athlete.

Firstly…your English is phenomenal - is that just from studying the language at school!

‍Lena Oberdorf: Hell no! I had a friend from America growing up and we’d FaceTime everyday, and that really helped develop my English. But when I moved to Wolfsburg, there’s of course so many different nationalities in the team! I started hanging out with the Dutch players, the Icelandic players and we all needed to speak English with one another in order to communicate. I think my English could be better really…

‍It’s better than mine! Let’s talk about these boots. What were your first impressions of the ‘Generation Pred’ release? 

My first impression was: “oh wow…they are bright!” which I loved.  As soon as I put them on I really liked them because it’s good to capture people’s attention when you’re on the pitch you know? 

‍Do you think they match your personality?

Maybe a little bit! Most people don’t really think I’m that ‘crazy’ though because I’m German. 

‍What do you mean?

Well, people traditionally tend to think that Germans are really well disciplined, regimental and I can of course be those things! But I’m also a little bit crazy every now and then so the boots fit in perfectly with that idea.

‍One of the first things you mentioned today was that you’d recently bought some DJ decks and had them set up at home to practise mixing. It seems like you’re quite a creative and expressive person.

Not many people really know that about me though! On the pitch sometimes people get the chance to see how expressive I am through my footballing ability, but those who are really close to me - the people I can really open up with - they know just how crazy I can be. 

How do you feel when your mindset is ‘right’?

When my mindset is right I feel like the best players on the pitch, no matter who I am up against. The right vibe pre-game helps with that, which is where music comes in. At the moment I’m listening to a lot of Drake before kick-off and it really gets me in the mood: I can see myself dribbling past everyone in the middle of the pitch - having the right vibe before a match can make all the difference I think. 

‍How do you shut out negative noise?

It’s really hard actually and I know I spoke about the positives of social media previously, but there are of course also downsides to it. It’s really important for me that you make the bubble around you small: you have your teammates, your friends, your loved ones. The individuals who are close to you and will always like you regardless of poor performances or temporary bad periods. For them, you’re not just the football player or athlete, you’re their friend, their girlfriend, their daughter. That’s how I try to shut out the negative noise - by surrounding myself with the right people.

adidas ‘Generation Pred’ is available to purchase now via adidas.com and select retailers.

These boots seem like the perfect match for you then. When you think of the term ‘adidas Predator’ what do you think of?

I think of the colour gold, so podium finishes and winners. I also think of the hardworking midfielders who came before me and played football in old school Preds. I think the term also reminds me of leaders, or individuals who have leadership qualities. 

‍How important is it to make sure your boots are just right?

It’s super important. In the past, before I joined adidas, I remember having a pair of boots that had way too much space in the front near the toes and I just did not feel comfortable at all whilst wearing them - I never felt like I hit the ball right with those shoes. To now be wearing these boots, I know I’ll be able to impress on the pitch seamlessly. 

‍It must be really cool and a little bit surreal to be a part of ‘Generation Pred’?

It’s crazy! I still can’t believe it. Back in the day I used to have to wear boots that belonged to my brother so they never quite fit right - we always shared boots and jerseys between siblings growing up. So to now be a part of ‘Generation Pred’ it’s a surreal feeling for sure. 

As a kid growing up it was also more about the men’s game - in the sense that it received more attention and recognition - so I never expected to be a part of something like this. Sometimes I have to pinch myself and ask, “is this really my life right now?”

‍Well, you are part of a generation of players who are breaking boundaries and pushing football forward. How does it feel to be a part of that generation? 

Children growing up in Germany witnessed the Birgit Prinz era, then the likes of Alexandra Popp and Dzsenifer Marozsán came along. To continue their legacies whilst also pushing for more, it makes me extremely proud to be a part of a generation that breaks boundaries.

‍What’s different about your generation of players?

I think maybe we’re a little bit more wild, a little bit more fierce. We also have a lot more things at our disposal to show our true selves - like social media for example. That wasn’t really a topic of conversation however many years ago for a lot of players, TikTok wasn’t on the market! Players of my generation have different means of showcasing themselves and their personalities. Nowadays, fans have an insight into our lives and feel as if they know us as people and footballers. Whereas back in the day there was just football.