Alisha Lehmann is one of the most recognisable faces in women’s football, yet she admits she almost quit the game due to online commentary that she wasn’t a real footballer.
The Leicester City star does not live the typical life of a football player, with over 27 million people on social media following her journey as professional athlete who is into fashion.
Lehmann’s image has always drawn headlines throughout her career, even booking her a spot on the catwalk at Milan Fashion Week last year.
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Alisha Lehmann arrives at Leicester City training. Instagram
But with that online fame has brought on mass public attention that has resulted in regular misconceptions and criticism about Lehmann’s commitment to being a professional athlete.
That was proven to be the case when she joined Leicester City in January, with conversations about her transfer focusing on her commercial appeal rather than her footballing skills.
“When I was younger it affected me more because I didn’t know how to handle the situation,” the 26-year-old forward told BBC Sport.
“There were moments where I was really sad and I used to ask my mum if I could not play football anymore.
“People don’t know how much effort I actually put in when they say ‘Oh, she’s not a footballer’. They just think, oh she goes to training and then goes home and does TikTok’s or whatever.
“But that is really not true. I rest so well, I sleep every afternoon and I would never do anything before training or a game that would affect how I play. I care so much about it.
“But now, I’m fine. I love my life and the people around me and I don’t get affected by it.
“It’s just an opinion, as is everything in life, so I just focus on myself. If I am happy and do the best in every situation, that for me is fine.”
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Alisha Lehmann (far right) celebrates with her Swiss teammates during an international friendly. Instagram
The Swiss international has always planned to use her social media platforms as an avenue to build the profile of women’s football and bring a new audience to the game.
That has been the case since her days at West Ham as a teenager in 2018. She then had short stints at Everton and Aston Villa before she eventually made the move to Juventus in 2024. Late last year she inked a three-year deal with Como, but departed early to join Leicester City.
She has significant influence over the women’s game, with retired US star Alex Morgan the second-most followed female player with 9 million followers. Lehmann has 16.8 million followers.
Australian captain Sam Kerr is considered to be one of the most influential in the Women’s Super League on social media, but she boasts a comparatively meagre 1.7 million followers on Instagram.
“Sometimes it is frustrating,” Lehmann continued, speaking about her critics.
Alisha Lehmann in action for Leicester City training. Instagram
“I’m very professional. I always give everything on the pitch and I want to be the best. If I’ve not done my best when I check my data after training, I will do extra rounds to try to improve.
“People can think what they want but everything I do is focused on being the best player I can be.”
Lehmann has settled into life back in England, admitting it “feels like home”.
Her Leicester City side currently sit at the bottom of the table with just two wins this season.