Women

By Max Wise

Winner of the inaugural edition of the women’s version of the Ballon d'Or, Ada Hegerberg, will miss the upcoming women’s World Cup to be staged in France this year, Norway manager Martin Sjogren has confirmed.

Ada Hegerberg has refused to play for Norway since the 2017 Women’s European Championship over what she perceives to be a lack of respect for female players in her homeland.

The Norwegian Football Federation has taken steps to resolve the impasse by signing an agreement with the Norway Players Association to pay female players equally as the men, but that has not been enough for Hegerberg to rescind her decision.

"We tried to solve it. We had meetings, but she decided not to play," Sjogren told the BBC World Service.

"As a coach, you need to focus on the players who want to be a part of the team and Ada doesn't.

"We respect that and we have been working hard with the other players and they have been doing a great job."

"She has a big profile in the game and Ada, of course, would be a great addition to our squad if she wants to be a part of it," he said.

"I don't think much about it because we have to put all of our focus on the players who want to be here.

"We won't get that phone call because she has declared she is not going to play the World Cup."

Hegerberg, 23, won the first edition of the Women’s Ballon d'Or in 2018, after her 46 goals in 29 appearances helped her club, Olympique Lyon, to the French title and the Women’s Uefa Champions League.

Hegerberg made her debut for Norway aged 16 and has gone on to score 38 goals in 66 caps for her country.

Norway are in the same group with hosts France, Nigeria and South Korea with the 2019 Women’s World Cup running from June 7 to July 7.