Guess who just missed out on being crowned the best women’s footballer in the world? Yep, you guessed it – our very own Matildas captain, Sam Kerr! She finished second in the highly esteemed Ballon d’Or Feminin awards held in Paris, and boy, are we proud of her!
Sam Kerr has been a force to be reckoned with in women’s football. She’s the only player to have been nominated for the women’s Ballon d’Or in all five editions since it started back in 2018. Talk about consistency!
But this year, she took it up a notch. Leading the charge for Chelsea, she helped them clinch their third consecutive Women’s Super League title. And guess what? She scored a whopping 12 goals in just 21 games! That’s some serious goal-scoring prowess right there.
Unfortunately, Sam had a bit of bad luck during the Women’s World Cup. She had to sit out most of the tournament due to a calf injury. But when she did get a chance to play, she made it count. Who could forget that incredible goal she scored in the semi-final against England? It sent chills down our spines!
And let’s not forget about her international career. Sam Kerr has been tearing it up for the Matildas. In fact, she recently scored a hat-trick in the Olympic qualifier against the Philippines, bringing her total international goal tally to a staggering 68 goals. That’s more goals than any other Australian player has ever scored!
Heather Garriock, a Football Australia board member and former Matilda, couldn’t contain her excitement. She said, “Sam coming second is an incredible achievement. But mark my words, she’s going to win it one day. She’s a superstar in our eyes, no matter what.” And we couldn’t agree more!
Sarah Walsh, the head of women’s football and inclusion at Football Australia, also showered Sam with praise. She said, “Sam continues to make history both on and off the field for Australian football. She deserves all the recognition she’s getting. She’s not just an exceptional talent, but also a role model that goes beyond the game. We couldn’t be prouder of her!”
Now, let’s talk about the winner of the Ballon d’Or Feminin. Aitana Bonmatí from Spain took home the coveted award. Her team’s victory in the Women’s World Cup played a big role in securing her the title. And to top it off, she was also named Uefa’s Women’s Player of the Year for her outstanding performance in helping Barcelona win the Champions League. Talk about a triple threat!
But here’s something interesting – Aitana Bonmatí is the first player ever to win the World Cup Golden Ball, the Uefa Women’s Player of the Year, and the Women’s Ballon d’Or in the same season. Now that’s what we call an impressive feat!
And let’s not forget about the men’s Ballon d’Or. Lionel Messi, the legendary Argentine forward, took home the trophy. He led his nation to victory in the World Cup held in Qatar last year. This is Messi’s eighth Ballon d’Or win, putting him three ahead of his rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. What a player!
So, while Sam Kerr may have missed out on the top spot this time, we know she’s destined for greatness. She’s already made a name for herself as one of the best in the world, and there’s no doubt she’ll continue to shine. Keep doing your thing, Sam! We’re cheering you on all the way!