Caroline Graham Hansen is taking a break from playing for Norway.

The 27-year-old Carline Graham Hansen, who plays for Barcelona, revealed the news on social media. However, after a gruelling campaign which saw her play over 50 games for club and country, Hansen has decided to take a break from the Norwegian national team.

She has been capped 71 times for her country, will miss Norway’s upcoming friendlies against Sweden and Denmark. She is also set to sit out Barcelona’s final two games of the season as they look to secure the Spanish league title.

Caroline Graham Hansen has been a key player for Norway since making her debut in 2013. She has scored 21 goals in 74 appearances for her country.

Hansen is not the only big name to miss out on international duty this month, with U.S. stars Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan also opting to take a break. All three players have been integral to their respective teams in recent years and their absences will be felt by their coaches and teammates.

The player forward announced her decision on social media, saying that she needs some time to recharge her batteries. “It’s been an intense and demanding period with a lot of travel and games,” Caroline Graham Hansen wrote on Instagram.

“I need some time to recover physically and mentally, so I’ve decided to take a break from the national team. I have been diagnosed with a cardiac problem that needs to be monitored,” she wrote. “After discussion with my club and the Norwegian federation, I have decided to take a break from playing for Norway.”

Graham Hansen, who has scored 23 goals in 58 appearances for her country, was a key member of the Norway team that won silver at the 2019 World Cup. She also played a pivotal role in qualifying Norway for this summer’s Olympic Games, scoring eight goals in six games.

The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) said it “fully respected Caroline’s decision” and wished her a speedy recovery. “Caroline is an important player for the national team, and we know how much she loves playing for her country,” said NFF president Ingrid Solli in a statement. “Caroline has our full support, and we wish her all the best in her recovery.”

Barcelona also released a statement wishing Caroline Graham Hansen a “speedy recovery”. “Caroline Graham Hansen is a very important player for us,” said Barcelona coach Lluis Cortes. “We all wish her a speedy recovery and hope to see her back on the pitch soon.”

The 27-year-old has been playing club football in Germany with Wolfsburg since 2019. She has helped them win the Bundesliga and German Cup, scoring 23 goals in 54 appearances. Caroline Graham Hansen was named the Bundesliga’s Player of the Season for 2020-21.

“I would like to thank Caroline Graham Hansen for her immense contribution to the national team,” said Norway coach Martin Sjogren. “She is a world-class player and has been a great role model for our young players.”