• Host DJ Martin Solveig has since apologised for his comment • Luka Modric won men’s award to break Ronaldo-Messi duopoly • The 100 best female footballers in the world 2018: part one

Luka Modric ended a decade of dominance by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the Ballon d’Or but the Croatian’s win was overshadowed when the inaugural winner of the women’s award, Ada Hegerberg, was asked to twerk live on stage by the host DJ, Martin Solveig.

The 100 best female footballers in the world 2018 Read more

Hegerberg, who helped Lyon to the French title and Champions League, scoring in the final, pipped Denmark’s Pernille Harder to the prize but appeared embarrassed when asked by Solveig if she wanted to dance in celebration and “knew how to twerk”.

The 23-year-old said “no” and seemed to attempt to leave the stage, before reluctantly agreeing to dance to another song with Solveig. Solveig tweeted shortly after the ceremony, saying he had apologised to Hegerberg for the remark.

“I explained to [Ada] and she told me she understood it was a joke,” Solveig wrote. “Nevertheless, my apologies to anyone who may have been offended. Most importantly, congratulations to Ada.”

The Norwegian forward said: “He came to me afterwards and was really sad that it went that way. I didn’t really consider it sexual harassment or anything in the moment. I was just happy to do the dance and win the Ballon d’Or.”

Play Video 1:01 Ada Hegerberg's Ballon d'Or triumph and fight for equality in football – video profile

Hegerberg added she was extremely proud to be named the first female winner. “It’s incredible,” she said. “This is a great motivation to continue working hard and we will continue to work together to win more titles. I wanted to end with some words for young girls around the world: believe in yourselves.”

Andy Murray was among those on social media who criticised Solveig’s comment, calling it “another example of the ridiculous sexism in sport.”

“What questions did they ask Mbappé and Modric?” the British tennis player added on Instagram. “I’d imagine something to do with football. And to everyone who thinks I’m overreacting and it was just a joke ... it wasn’t. I’ve been involved in sport my whole life and the level of sexism is unreal.”

Ada Hegerberg stepped forward for women’s football, but sexism kicked her back | Suzanne Wrack Read more

Modric won a third straight Champions League title and inspired his country to reach the World Cup final, and there are few who will begrudge his victory, with Ronaldo in second. Lionel Messi only came fifth, finishing behind France duo Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappé – the first time since 2006 that the Argentina forward has not finished in the top three.

There had been a clue that there would be a new winner in the 63rd edition of this award – Blackpool’s Stanley Matthews was the first in 1956 – when neither Ronaldo nor Messi were present at the Grand Palais in Paris, although in typically humble fashion Modric admitted he had been pleasantly surprised to be recognised after being congratulated on his victory by Croatia president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic.

Play Video 0:49 Luka Modric 'honoured' after winning men's 2018 Ballon d'Or – video

Having become the first teenager to score in a World Cup final since Pelé in 1958 as France won their second title in Russia, Paris Saint-Germain’s forward Mbappé was the runaway winner of the inaugural Kopa Trophy for the best player under the age of 21, ahead of Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold. Mohamed Salah finished in sixth place in the men’s award in recognition of his fantastic debut season at Anfield, in which he scored 32 Premier League goals and helped the team reach the Champions League final.

Quick guide Ballon d'Or: Full results Show Hide Men's award – top five 1) Luka Modric (Croatia and Real Madrid)

2) Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal and Juventus)

3) Antoine Griezmann (France and Atlético Madrid)

4) Kylian Mbappé (France and PSG)

5) Lionel Messi (Argentina and Barcelona) England's Harry Kane was 10th, Wales's Gareth Bale joint 17th Women's award – top five 1) Ada Hegerberg (Norway and Lyon)

2) Pernille Harder (Denmark and Wolfsburg)

3) Dzsenifer Maroszan (Germany and Lyon)

4) Marta (Brazil and Orlando Pride)

5) Sam Kerr (Australia and Chicago Red Stars) England's Lucy Bronze and Fran Kirby finished sixth and 14th Kopa award for best young player The inaugural award for the best under-21 player in the world was won by France and PSG forward Kylian Mbappé. The men's award: how the rest finished 6 Mohamed Salah 7 Raphaël Varane 8 Eden Hazard 9 Kevin De Bruyne 10 Harry Kane 11 N'Golo Kanté 12 Neymar 13 Luis Suárez 14 Thibaut Courtois 15 Paul Pogba 16 Sergio Agüero =17 Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale =19 Roberto Firmino, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Ramos =22 Marcelo, Edinson Cavani, Sadio Mané =25 Alisson, Jan Oblak, Mario Mandzukic 28 Diego Godín =29 Isco, Hugo Lloris. Photograph: Aurélien Meunier/Getty Images Europe

Salah was the highest-ranked player from the Premier League, with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard eighth, Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City ninth and Tottenham’s Harry Kane – who won the Golden Boot in Russia – 10th.</s>French DJ Martin Solveig has been accused of sexism after asking Norwegian striker Ada Hegerberg if she could twerk just moments after she won the inaugural women's Ballon d'Or award.

The 23-year-old - who scored 15 goals for Lyon during a triumphant Champions League campaign last season - was encouraged to perform the provocative dance move as she gave her acceptance speech.

She replied "no" and turned away from the podium as Solveig laughed off her answer, as other footballers in the audience looked on in bemusement.

The bizarre incident has sparked outrage among fans online, with Solveig - who has apologised for causing offence - coming under heavy criticism for his "sexist", "disrespectful" and "disgusting" request.

One viewer, Sean Walker, tweeted: "Lyon striker Ada Hegerberg, first female Ballon D'Or winner after scoring over 250 career goals at the age 23, asked to twerk on stage in front of footballing giants and the public watching.

"Disgusting and really ruined her moment she deserved. Poor."

Football journalist Siavoush Fallahi added: "What kind of question is this? And why are these guys laughing? This is disgusting, I'm so sorry for Ada Hegerberg."

Responding to the criticism, Solveig tweeted: "Sincere apologies to the one I may have offended.

"My point was: I don't invite women to twerk but dance on a Sinatra song. Watch the full sequence. People who have followed me for 20 years know how respectful I am especially with women.

"I explained to @AdaStolsmo the buzz and she told me she understood it was a joke. Nevertheless my apologies to anyone who may have been offended. Most importantly congratulations to Ada."

Hegerburg claimed the award - voted for by journalists - after seeing off Wolfsburg and Denmark forward Pernille Harder, German midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan, and England and Lyon defender Lucy Bronze.

It recognises her as the best female footballer in the world.

In her acceptance speech at the ceremony in Paris, she said: "I want to say thanks to my teammates because this would not have been possible without them, my coach or our president Jean-Michel Aulas.

"I also want to thank France Football. This is a huge step for women's football.

"And to young girls all over the world, please, believe in yourself."

France Football has handed out a men's Ballon d'Or every year since 1956 and the 2018 edition marked the first time in a decade that it had been won by someone other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

Luka Modric won the award after helping Real Madrid to another Champions League trophy, before inspiring Croatia to an unlikely appearance in the World Cup final.

Cristiano Ronaldo came second and Antoine Griezmann - who was part of the France team that beat Croatia to the biggest prize in football - came third.

His countryman Kylian Mbappe won the inaugural Kopa Trophy for the best male player aged 21 and under.</s>Olympique Lyonnais and Norway forward Ada Hegerberg won the inaugural Ballon d'Or award for the best player in women's football on Monday (local time) but the moment was tarnished when DJ Martin Solveig asked her to 'twerk' after receiving the prize.

Hegerberg, who helped lead Lyon win the Women's Champions League last season, looked embarrassed and answered "no" after Solveig asked her in French to do the provocative dance.

"You've seen that I prepared a little celebration for (France forward) Kylian (Mbappe) so we said we're going to do something similar. Do you know how to twerk?" said French DJ Solveig who co-hosted the awards with David Ginola.

Solveig was the subject of criticism on social media following his exchange with 23-year-old Hegerberg and quickly apologised for his comments with a video posted on Twitter.

"I'm a little amazed and astonished with what I'm reading on the internet, of course I didn't want to offend anyone," he said. "This was a joke probably a bad one, I want to apologise to the one I offended, sorry about that."

"He (Solveig) came to me afterwards and was really sad that it went that way. I didn't really think about it at the time to be honest. I didn't really consider it a sexual harassment or anything in the moment," she told the BBC.

Arsenal centre-back and Ireland international Louise Quinn told Reuters: "It just shows that people just come out with these questions or comments without giving it a second thought, and it must change.

"Women's football is taking huge strides and questions and comments like this take away from those strides we have taken. Instead of the attention going to a world-class player for her talent it will all be about Solveig's question."

Hegerberg earlier spoke of her pride in winning the award and said she hoped it would motivate young female players.

"Being historical and the first woman to win the Ballon d'Or is a huge moment in my life," she added.

"It is a fantastic day for women's football... it is important to show young girls that they can believe in themselves and I hope they are inspired by this. They are the future."

Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric was named the best men's player of 2018 at the prestigious awards organised by France Football magazine. They have existed since 1956 but had not previously had a women's football category.</s>Lyon and Norway striker Ada Hegerberg has won the inaugural Women’s Ballon d’Or award, according to BBC reports.

The 23-year-old scored in this year’s Champions League final as French side Lyon beat Wolfsburg 4-1 in Kiev.

Wolfsburg and Denmark striker Pernille Harder was second, Germany midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan third and England and Lyon defender Lucy Bronze sixth.

The award – voted for by journalists – recognises the best player in the world.

Co-host Martin Solveig, a French DJ, was widely criticised on social media after asking Hegerberg during the presentation: “Do you know how to twerk?”

Solveig later apologised, and Hegerberg played down suggestions it had marred her win.

Hegerberg was one of seven players from the all-conquering Lyon side to feature among the 15 nominees.

She was the leading scorer with 15 goals as the French side won the Champions League for the third year running.

The Ballon d’Or has been awarded to a men’s player by France Football every year since 1956, but this is the first year there has been a women’s award.</s>NORWEGIAN STRIKER ADA Hegerberg was rewarded for her prolific form with Champions League winners Lyon as she took the first ever women’s Ballon d’Or prize at a ceremony in Paris on Monday.

The 23-year-old saw off competition from players like Danish star Pernille Harder, of German club VfL Wolfsburg, and Brazil’s Marta — winner of FIFA’s best player prize — to take the prize organised by France Football magazine following a vote by journalists from around the world.

Hegerberg was one of seven players from the all-conquering Lyon side to feature among the 15 nominees, but she won out thanks to her prolific form in front of goal.

She was the top scorer with 15 goals as the French side won the Champions League for the third year running. One of her goals came in the final in Kiev in May, as Lyon came from behind to beat Wolfsburg 4-1 after extra time and retain the trophy.

Harder had put the Germans in front in that game.

Ada Hegerberg alongside her mother Gerd Hegerberg and her sister, Paris Saint-Germain's Andrine Hegerberg at the ceremony. Source: AP/PA Images

“I want to say thanks to my teammates because this would not have been possible without them, my coach or our president Jean-Michel Aulas,” Hegerberg said at the ceremony at the Grand Palais, just off the Champs Elysees.

“I also want to thank France Football. This is a huge step for women’s football.”

Lyon also won the French title for the 12th season in succession, with Hegerberg top-scoring with 31 goals, and she continues to bang in the goals for her team who are top of the table again this season.

Hegerberg, whose elder sister Andrine plays for Lyon’s biggest rivals in France, Paris Saint-Germain, is a Norwegian international but has not played for her country since their disappointing showing at Euro 2017 in the Netherlands.

Subscribe to our new podcast, Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42, here:</s>Sixty-two years after Stanley Matthews won the first Ballon d’Or the women’s game received its inaugural winner: it wasn’t Australia’s Sam Kerr but trailblazing Norwegian forward Ada Hegerberg.

The three-time Women’s Champions League winner with French side Lyon was named the world’s best female player of 2018 at a gala in Paris.

A jury of 45 journalists picked the 23-year-old Hegerberg from among 15 nominees, including Matildas star striker Kerr who was fifth in the voting.

“For the first time a woman will win football’s highest honour. So even if I don’t win, we will,” Kerr posted on Instagram before the awards ceremony.

Kerr had another outstanding 2018 winning the NWSL golden boot, the PFA Women’s Footballer of the Year and ESPY Award for Best International Women’s Soccer Player.

Dane Pernille Harder and German Dzsenifer Marozsan rounding out the top three while Brazilian Marta was fourth.

Hegerberg called the award “a huge step for women’s football” and said she feels “very proud” to be the first Ballon d’Or-winning woman.

She scored a tournament-record 15 goals for Lyon in the Women’s Champions League last season.

Hegerberg also expressed frustration about living “in such a man’s world” and said the award will not make her reconsider her refusal to play for Norway, including at next June’s Women’s World Cup, because of her unhappiness over perceived inequality.

“A lot of things need to be done to make the conditions better for women who play football,” she said.

“It’s all about how we respect women’s football. I don’t think the respect has been there.

“I wish the national team the best, though. We just follow two different paths at the moment.”

France Football magazine has been awarding the Ballon d’Or - until now only to men - since 1956, when Matthews was the first winner.</s>Lyon's Ada Hegerberg has been crowned the first winner of the women's Ballon d'Or.

The Norwegian striker, 23, helped Lyon claim the French league title and Champions League trophy, scoring in the final as they beat Wolfsburg 4-1 in Kiev.

"I want to say thanks to my team-mates because this would not have been possible without them, my coach or our president Jean-Michel Aulas," Hegerberg said.

"I also want to thank France Football. This is a huge step for women's football.

"I want to end this speech with a message to all young girls in the world. Believe in yourselves"

England duo Lucy Bronze and Frank Kirby were also ranked among the top 20 in the world, finishing sixth and 14th respectively.

Hegerberg and Bronze were two of seven Lyon players shortlisted for the award.

However, there was controversy surrounding the ceremony in Paris after Hegerberg was asked if she knew how to twerk when she collected her award on stage by host Martin Solveig, a French DJ.

The comment sparked outrage on social media, with many users calling the remarks "sexist", and Solveig released an apology on Twitter shortly after.

"Sincere apologies to the one I may have offended," he said. "My point was: I don't invite women to twerk but dance on a Sinatra song. Watch the full sequence, people who have followed me for 20 years know how respectful I am especially with women."</s>Matildas star Sam Kerr has finished fifth in the inaugural Women’s Ballon D’Or.

Norwegian forward Ada Hegerberg won the award, with Pernille Harder, Dzsenifer Maroszan, Marta and Kerr rounding out the top five.

Kerr had a sensational year for club — at Chicago Red Stars and Perth Glory — and country, for the Matildas, but it was not enough to secure the award.

The 25-year-old scored 16 goals in 20 games for the Red Stars this year, to go with eight goals for her country. That came off the back of 13 for the Glory.

Meanwhile Hegerberg scored 10 goals in as many league games for Olympique Lyonnais, while she scored 15 in nine Champions League appearances in 2017/18 as the club won its third consecutive trophy.

An emotional Hegerberg used her speech to tell young girls all over the world to “please, believe in yourself.”

A jury of 45 journalists picked the 23-year-old Hegerberg from among 15 nominees, including Matildas star striker Kerr who was fifth in the voting.

“For the first time a woman will win football’s highest honour. So even if I don’t win, we will,” Kerr posted on Instagram before the awards ceremony on Monday.

Kerr had another outstanding 2018 winning the NWSL golden boot, the PFA Women’s Footballer of the Year and ESPY Award for Best International Women’s Soccer Player.

Dane Pernille Harder and German Dzsenifer Marozsan rounding out the top three while Brazilian Marta was fourth.

Hegerberg called the award “a huge step for women’s football” and also told The Associated Press she feels “very proud” to be the first Ballon d’Or-winning woman.

She scored a tournament-record 15 goals for Lyon in the Women’s Champions League last season.</s>Olympique Lyonnais and Norway forward Ada Hegerberg made history on Monday when she won the inaugural Ballon d’Or award for the best player in women’s football.

Hegerberg, who helped lead Lyon win the Women’s Champions League last season, said she hoped it would motivate young female players.

“Being historical and the first woman to win the Ballon d’Or is a huge moment in my life,” she added.

It is a fantastic day for women’s football... it is important to show young girls that they can believe in themselves and I hope they are inspired by this. They are the future.

“It is a fantastic day for women’s football… it is important to show young girls that they can believe in themselves and I hope they are inspired by this. They are the future.”

Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric was named the best men’s player of 2018 at the prestigious awards organised by France Football magazine.

The awards have existed since 1956 but had not previously had a women’s football category.</s>At last night's ceremony in Paris, Ronaldo came in second place, with France and Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann completing the podium.

French World Cup star and Paris Saint-Germain teenage striker Kylian Mbappe came fourth, leaving Messi in fifth position.

Mbappe, who will turn 20 later this month, picked up the consolation prize of the Kopa Trophy for the best young player.

Last night's ceremony also saw a women's Ballon d'Or named for the first time, with Lyon's prolific Norwegian striker Ada Hegerberg taking that award.
Norwegian striker Ada Hegerberg wins the inaugural Women's Ballon d'Or.