Matildas captain Sam Kerr’s best and worst moments on and off the field
As the Matilda’s superstar is faced with allegations she racially harassed a police officer, we look at some of her other headline grabbing moments.
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Matildas captain Sam Kerr is in the spotlight over allegations she racially harassed a police officer in London but the soccer star is no stranger to making headlines.
Kerr’s professional football career has drawn the adoration of a nation, endorsement deals and overseas contracts with the likes of English powerhouse club Chelsea.
Now she is faced with a four-day trial in February next year after she was charged following a dispute over a taxi fare in London. Kerr has entered a plea of not guilty.
The charge has come off the back of a heartbreaking setback for the striker, who suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury in a mid-season Chelsea training camp.
Her chances of taking to the field at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games have taken a massive hit.
As the superstar faces awaits a criminal trial and recovers from injury, we take a look back at some of her headline grabbing moments.
CONTROVERSIAL ‘RAINBOW’ ARMBAND IN WORLD CUP
Kerr found herself at the centre of controversy over a “rainbow” captain’s armband in the lead up to last year’s World Cup.
The rainbow armband forced FIFA to release eight “sanctioned” armbands for the World Cup that promoted a variety of social causes.
Included in the armband messaging was “Unite for Inclusion”, “Unite for Gender Equality”, “Unite for Peace” and “Unite for Ending Violence Against Women’, but the rainbow colours were a notable omission.
Kerr eventually decided not to wear the armband to avoid “putting everything at risk”.
ANGER OVER AWARD SNUB
Sports fans were angry after Kerr finished runner up in the Ballon d’Or awards for best female player in October last year.
The Matildas star was voted the second best player on the planet, with Spanish superstar Aitana Bonmati awarded the prestigious Ballon d’Or Féminin at a glitzy Paris ceremony.
The Chelsea striker has finished in the top 10 every year since the women’s award was founded in 2018.
The 30-year-old has had the world at her feet in the past 12 months, leading Chelsea to victory in the FA Cup and Women’s Super League, scoring 29 goals in 38 appearances.
Kerr also played a huge part in the Matildas’ run through to the semi-finals of the World Cup, despite a devastating calf injury ruining her campaign.
It’s why plenty of fans and commentators believe Kerr deserved the award more than Bonmati.
Sam Kerr is an icon. Her impact in football will be felt on and off the pitch for years to come. One of the best players we’ve witnessed in the women’s game and a BLUE. Congratulations on your second place Ballon d’Or finish💙🇦🇺
— Ray (@SirayahShiraz) October 30, 2023
KERR ENDS RELATIONSHIP WITH US FOOTBALLER
The high-profile romance between Kerr and her glamorous American girlfriend ended in 2021, after seven years together.
Kerr reportedly decided to end the relationship with football player Nikki Stanton ahead of the 2021 Olympics.
Kerr had told friends she’d simply “fallen out of love” with Stanton, after the pair met in 2014 while playing soccer in America.
NEW RELATIONSHIP AFTER SHOCK SPLIT
Kerr went public with her relationship with fellow professional footballer Kristie Mewis, after the couple sparked romance rumours when they were seen embracing on the field at the Tokyo Games.
The relationship came as a surprise to many after Kerr’s split only months earlier with Stanton.
Kerr announced her engagement to Mewis publicly in November 2023, however, the actual proposal was in September.
KERR MAKES THE COVER OF FIFA 23
Kerr became the first female footballer to feature on the cover of a global version of the hugely popular Fifa 23 video game.
The Matildas striker is pictured alongside France star Kylian Mbappé on the cover of Fifa 23 Ultimate Edition.
Both players wore their club kit, Chelsea for Kerr and Paris St Germain for Mbappé, who featured on his own on the front of the 2021 and 2022 issues.
Prior to that Lionel Messi was often the cover star with Cristiano Ronaldo also featuring in recent years.
Presenting your #FIFA23 Cover Stars:@samkerr1 and @KMbappe âï¸âï¸
— EA SPORTS FC (@EASPORTSFC) July 18, 2022
Two phenomenal forces up front.
One ultimate strike partnership.
See the full reveal on July 20 âž¡ https://t.co/yjXnlCteDRpic.twitter.com/oOWyqoqBzB
IMMORTALISED AS A LEGO FIGURINE
Kerr has made history as the first ever Australian to be immortalised as a LEGO figurine.
Not just the first Australian to be put into a Lego set, Kerr is one of the first female soccer players in the world to receive the honour
The Aussie superstar was immortalised in brick form as a Lego character, alongside legendary United States national team striker Megan Rapinoe and Japanese pair Yuki Nagasato and Asisat Oshoala.
BREAKS TIM CAHILL’S RECORD
Kerr broke Tim Cahill’s record for most goals scored by an Australian player both male and female.
Her feat occurred during the Matildas’ 18-0 demolition of Indonesia in the group stage of the tournament in January 2022.
Before the contest, Kerr described the idea of breaking Cahill’s record as “crazy”.
STATE FOOTBALL CENTRE NAMED IN HER HONOUR
Kerr received a top honour in October last year when the new WA State Football Centre was officially named after her.
She opened Football West’s $50 million centre of excellence in her hometown, which Premier Roger Cook announced would be known as the Sam Kerr Football Centre.
“Yeah, it’s pretty crazy to be honest,” Kerr said at the time.
“I haven’t wrapped my head around it but I’m a proud West Aussie, so yeah, this is up there with one of the proudest moments of my career.”
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