Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg to miss Women's World Cup

Ada Hegerberg, winner of the first women's Ballon d'Or, will not return to Norway duty for the World Cup in France.

Ada Hegerberg has not played for Norway since it was knocked out of the group stages of Euro 2017.

Norway coach Martin Sjogren says there is no chance Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg will play at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France.

The 23-year-old Lyon striker has not played for her country since it was knocked out of Women's Euro 2017 with three defeats from as many games. Hegerberg, who won the inaugural Women's Ballon d'Or last year, stepped away from international football because of frustrations with the state of the women's game within Norway.

Sjogren says they have been unable to reach an understanding over the issue, meaning Hegerberg will not be involved in France this year.

"We tried to solve it, we had meetings, but she decided not to play," he said to 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."

The tournament begins in Paris on June 7, when host nation France faces South Korea.