Women's Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg decides not to play in World Cup

Ada Hegerberg won't feature at the World Cup in France this summer.

"We tried to solve it, we had meetings, but she decided not to play," Norway coach Martin Sjogren said, according to BBC Sport.

The 23-year-old has not featured for the national team since Norway's dismal performance at the Women's European Championship in 2017 when the nation failed to score a goal.

Hegerberg withdrew herself from selection to protest what she describes as a lack of respect for female soccer players in Norway.

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

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

The Lyon star's boycott of the national team was followed by a historic agreement between the Norwegian Football Association (NFF) and the nation's players association (NISO) that ensures equal pay.

Months after leading Lyon to their third successive UEFA Women's Champions League title, Hegerberg was named the inaugural winner of the Women's Ballon d'Or in December 2018.

Norway, ranked 13th by FIFA, kicks off its World Cup campaign against Nigeria on June 8 before matches against France and South Korea.