The award which was voted by fans across the world saw Australia's Sam Kerr finish in third behind Hegerberg and Wolfsburg striker Pernille Harder.

It is the second consecutive time Kerr has finished third for the award after the Matildas captain finished behind England's Lucy Bronze and 2017 FIFA Women's Player of the Year Lieke Martens.

The announcement comes four days after Hegerberg scored a hat-trick in the Champions League final.

"It's a rollercoaster of feelings. It's amazing," she told BBC.

The 23-year-old who also claimed the award in 2017, won't feature at this FIFA Women's World Cup after choosing to step away from the Norwegian national team two years ago because of her increased frustration over the state of the country's domestic and international system.

Hegerberg also was named the first recipient of the women's Ballon d'Or in 2018.

This season she maintained her form with 29 goals in 33 games, as Lyon came home with the treble: the French league title, French cup and European trophy.

"Sometimes in my mind, I think 'am I capable of doing that?' and some part of me goes 'absolutely, of course you are' and some part is like 'you're a lunatic, don't put yourself in a situation like that before you've been there'," Hegerberg said.

"But visualising it all leads up to moments like that."