Sam Kerr has once again been recognised for her continuing excellence, nominated on the shortlist as the ‘Best FIFA’s Women’s Player’ of the year.
The Chelsea and Matildas striker heads a list of 14 star names with the sport’s governing body also revealing the ‘Best FIFA Men’s Player’ list on Thursday which has Lionel Messi as its outstanding favourite and Cristiano Ronaldo not included for the first time.
The Australian Kerr has been recognised after another stellar season for club and country, winning the FA Cup and Women’s Super League double with Chelsea while also taking the Golden Boot as the leading scorer in England for a second straight season.
The 2022 Players’ Player of the Year was also Australia’s top scorer in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup but she has formidable opposition in the quest for the big prize after finishing second in the same awards last year behind Alexia Putellas.
Kerr has also finished third in voting behind winner Putellas for the other major global award, the Ballon d’Or Feminin, over the last two years.
The Barcelona star Putellas is again on the list despite missing much of last year with injury.
She’s alongside three of the England team who triumphed at the Women’s Euros – top scorer Beth Mead, captain Leah Williamson and midfielder Keira Walsh – and Kerr’s Canadian teammate at Chelsea, Jessie Fleming.
Messi also heads a list of 14, featuring 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, two-time winner Robert Lewandowski, Paris St Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe and Manchester City scoring sensation Erling Haaland.
But it felt like an era was over as Ronaldo’s name was conspicuous by its absence.
The Portuguese, released by Manchester United and benched by Portugal during the World Cup, won the FIFA award for the first two years back in 2016 and 2017 and was on the podium the following three years.
This time, though, while Messi looked sure to be rewarded for orchestrating Argentina’s World Cup triumph, Ronaldo was not even selected as a contender by a FIFA-appointed panel.
The other Australian nominated in the ‘FIFA Best’ lists is Alou Kuol, elder brother of Newcastle wunderkind Garang, who’s in line for the ‘Puskas Award’ for best goal of the calendar year.
The 21-year-old scored a stunning ‘scorpion kick’ effort for the Australia’s Under 23 side against Iran’s U23s and will have his effort judged against 10 other belters, including Mbappe’s dazzling second in the World Cup final.
Award nominees:
Men: Julian Alvarez, Jude Bellingham, Karim Benzema, Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Achraf Hakimi, Robert Lewandowski, Sadio Mane, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Luka Modric, Neymar, Mohamed Salah, Vinicius Junior
Women: Aitana Bonmati, Debinha, Jessie Fleming, Ada Hegerberg, Sam Kerr, Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, Alex Morgan, Lena Oberdorf, Alexandra Popp, Alexia Putellas, Wendie Renard, Keira Walsh, Leah Williamson.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Sam Kerr is at the top of the womens game, I would assume you mainly watch highlights if you think there are women players that are much technically better. Sam is better technically with her head than majority top male strikers. Technically she is better than Jamie Maclaren with her feet which isnt saying much. She has got good poachers instincts, she ok with her back to the goal either, not as clinical with shooting opportunities but then again I haven't see a single women thats that clinical.
Hopper
Roar Rookie
Sam is not technically gifted. This has been her Achilles heel throughout her career.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Kerr will miss out again and this is probably her final chance of getting anything unless she can win the world cup. There are a lot of emerging players, Kerr stood out for 5 years but now other players are scoring at great rates in England, and she is not as selfish as she should be. Putellas its beyond a joke how rigged this is, her national team puts in their best ever performance without her, her club team does exactly the same without her, the Spanish club competition is a joke its more uneven than PSG playing in Scotland , and now the ultimate joke she still gets nominated despite missing everything injured.
Brendan
Roar Pro
Sam’s certainly one of the top athletes in the world. It’ll be a memorable World Cup.
Grem
Roar Rookie
It would be wonderful to see Sam finally get the number 1 spot. She’s a brilliant player and deserving of this amazing achievement.