Women's World Cup: Ada Hegerberg not in Norway squad for France 2019

Ada Hegerberg became the inaugural winner of the Women's Ballon d'Or in December

Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg has not been included in Norway's squad for the Women's World Cup.

The 23-year-old striker's absence for the tournament in France this summer was expected because she has refused to play for the national side since 2017.

Hegerberg has taken a stand against what she describes as a lack of respect for female players in Norway.

The Lyon player's sister, Paris St-Germain midfielder Andrine, is also absent from the squad.

Chelsea's Maria Thorisdottir, a defender, and Maren Mjelde, a midfielder, are included, as is Wolfsburg forward Caroline Graham Hansen.

Norway coach Martin Sjogren said in February that the club had "tried to solve" things between them and Hegerberg but "she decided not to play".

Speaking to BBC World Service earlier this year, Sjogren added: "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."

But she has maintained her reasons for quitting, later saying it was an "easy choice" for her.

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Three-time Champions League winner Hegerberg's decision to step away from international football came just months before the Norwegian Football Association (NFF) and the nation's player' association (NISO) signed an historic equal pay agreement.

The agreement saw the amount of money paid to the women's team almost double from 3.1m krone (£296,845) to 6m krone (£574,540).

It included 550,000 krone (£47,875) paid by male Norwegian players, money they receive for commercial activities.

"Thank you for making this step for female athletes," Norway winger Hansen said at the time.

BBC Sport will broadcast the Women's World Cup, which runs from 7 June until 7 July.

Ada Hegerberg has been nominated for BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2019.