Sam Kerr snubbed by FIFA: Matildas superstar misses cut for Best Women’s Player award short-list
MATILDAS superstar Sam Kerr has inexplicably missed the cut for the FIFA Best Women’s Player award after the three-woman shortlist was revealed.
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MATILDAS superstar Sam Kerr has missed the cut for the FIFA Best Women’s Player award after the shortlist was revealed at a ceremony in London.
The 23-year-old was among a list of 10 nominated for the gong which will now be contested between Venezuelan striker Deyna Castellanos, American midfielder Carli Lloyd, and Leike Martens, who helped Netherlands to the Euro 2017 title.
Kerr has been in red-hot form for the club and country with seven goals in her last four Matildas matches.
The 24-year-old scored a double for Australia as they completed a sweep of Brazil with a 3-2 win in front of 17,000 fans in Newcastle last Tuesday.
Kerr is also currently the leading goalscorer in the United States National Women’s Soccer League, where she plays for Sky Blue FC.
congratulations to Barbara Streisand ,Julia Roberts and Donald Trump on their FIFA top 3 nomination for player of the year! ðð
â Lisa De Vanna (@lisadevanna11) September 22, 2017
When u think the women's game was movin 4ward n the political bullð© Has stopped...U hear da final 3 nominees n think we have long way 2 go!
â Lisa De Vanna (@lisadevanna11) September 22, 2017
The Perth Glory forward was named Australia’s Footballers of the Year at Professional Football Australia’s annual awards, winning the title for the second time, and was one of the favourites for the FIFA Best Women’s Player award.
However, she missed out on a top three nomination, which prompted open-jawed reaction on social media from team-mates and opponents alike.
I think there must be some sort of mistake ð³ #rigged
â Caitlin Foord (@CaitlinFoord) September 22, 2017
Well.... @samkerr1 is my FIFA Women's Player of the Year ðð¦ðº
â Lydia Williams (@lydsaussie) September 22, 2017
Going to need someone to walk me through how @samkerr1 is NOT on short list for FIFA player of the year... Dumbfounded right now ð¤
â Kelley O'Hara (@kohara19) September 22, 2017
Happy to see my @HoustonDash teammate @CarliLloyd as a candidate again for this award but how is @samkerr1 not one after the year shes had?ð® https://t.co/FQknB3Wm8S
â Janine Van Wyk (@Janinevanwyk5) September 22, 2017
On the men’s front it was a case of the usual suspects with Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar nominated as finalists.
Ronaldo helped Real Madrid to a second consecutive Champions League title and finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 12 goals earlier this year. Messi and Neymar claimed the Spanish King’s Cup with Barcelona with the former finishing as La Liga’s top scorer with 37 goals last season.
Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon was short-listed for the Best FIFA Goalkeeper award after leading the Italian club to a sixth successive Serie A title, a third-straight Italian Cup success and a runner-up finish in the Champions League.
He was joined by Real Madrid shot-stopper Keylor Navas and Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer.
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, Chelsea’s Antonio Conte and Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri were on the shortlist for the Best FIFA Men’s Coach award.
The awards ceremony will take place in London on October 23.