‘It’s not about the money’ – Why Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg isn’t playing at the Women’s World Cup

The forward hasn’t represented Norway since they crashed out of the group stages at Euro 2017 – but it’s not because of those poor displays

When Ada Hegerberg was awarded the inaugural Ballon d’Or Feminin in December, it was a watershed moment for women’s football.

She stood proudly alongside Luka Modric, the winner of the men’s edition, and Kylian Mbappe, winner of the under-21 Kopa Trophy, laughing and joking and, after winning a third successive Champions League with Lyon, certainly not out of place.

Yet, there was one obvious difference between her and her male counterparts – and it wasn’t her gender.