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Australian superstar Sam Kerr has been left out of the three-person shortlist for the Best Women’s Player at the annual Best FIFA Football Awards despite coming runner-up in the voting for the Ballon d’Or Feminin in October.
The Best Awards honour the most outstanding members of professional football in games played between August 1 2022 and August 20 2023.
Kerr, alongside her Matildas teammates Mary Fowler and Caitlin Foord, had been named in the 16-woman line-up for the Best Women’s Player but was not named amongst the three finalists.
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Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmati, who was awarded player of the tournament at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, her international teammate Jenni Hermoso and Colombian young gun Linda Caicedo were announced as the final three on Friday.
The 30-year-old Kerr had a rollercoaster of a year after helping her club Chelsea to a domestic double with victory in the FA Cup to go with a fourth straight Women’s Super League title.
Her home World Cup campaign then took a hit after she suffered a calf injury at training the day before Australia’s opening match which saw her sidelined throughout the tournament.
Unable to snare a top individual gong, Kerr has finished in the top-three in the last three editions of the Ballon d’Or Feminin and came third in voting for the Best Women’s Player in 2021.
The winners of the Best FIFA Football Awards are determined by an international panel made up of national team captains, coaches, football journalists and fans through a voting system.
In another blow, Kerr’s wondergoal during the Matildas’ World Cup semi-final loss to England, which was also shortlisted for the prestigious FIFA Puskas award for goal of the year, also did not make the cut.
As the Matildas launched a counter-attack, Kerr unleashed a missile from well outside the box to level the score and keep their World Cup hopes alive.
The ball hurtled into the top left corner, leaving England goalkeeper Mary Earps flapping at fresh air.
The finalists for the Best Men’s Player include reigning winner Lionel Messi, Manchester City goal-scoring machine Erling Haaland and Paris Saint-Germain talent Kylian Mbappe.
They are the same trio who contested the award in 2022.
Australian shot-stopper Mackenzie Arnold remains in the hunt for the Best Women’s Goalkeeper award.
The award winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on January 15.
