Women’s World Cup: Sam Kerr makes headlines around the world after her four goals against Jamaica
Matildas captain Sam Kerr’s history-making efforts at the Women’s World Cup have captured the attention of a far greater audience than just Australian sports fans.
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Move over Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, Sam Kerr is one of the highest-profile footballers on planet earth right now.
Already one of the faces of global footwear giant Nike, Kerr is now making more headlines around the globe.
The top goalscorer in both the Australian and American domestic leagues the past two years, Kerr has taken her extraordinary game to another level at the women’s World Cup in France.
The Matildas captain and taliswoman cemented her place in history after becoming the first Australian to score a hat-trick at a World Cup.
Her four goals not only giving the Matildas a 4-1 victory over Jamaica and firing Australia into a next-round clash with Norway, it also put Kerr on a pedestal above the likes of Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill.
No Australian footballer has ever scored three goals in a single World Cup match, let alone four.
Kerr was destined for sporting greatness right from the beginning, the youngest of four siblings including former West Coast Eagles AFL champion Daniel Kerr.
More than sport, though, last year’s Young Australian of the Year is a champion of a progressive Australia, recently talking for the first time about long-term girlfriend and Red Stars teammate Nikki Stanton.
Stanton didn’t make the US team but is in France to support Kerr, who describes the 28-year-old American as “the safe place for me”.
Around the world, more people are marvelling at Australia’s latest national treasure.
The New York Times ran an interactive graphic showing just how unstoppable Kerr is. Highlighting all of her key moves, including that trademark backflip goal celebration.
And Australian sport’s darling of the moment will keep on with the divine interventions until she delivers her country football’s biggest trophy from France.
World Cups have a tendency to make or break reputations, and Kerr’s is as big as they come.
The 25-year-old occupies air so rare that if she’s in the box there’s not much chance of stopping her.
Even Wednesday’s record-breaking haul against Jamaica wasn’t enough.
“I actually wanted more being my selfish self,” Kerr said.
“I knew every goal would count and I’m just happy we could get that second spot.
“I’m obviously pretty excited I could score and help the team out. I feel relieved.
“Breaking records is something I’ll look back at on the end of my career. It’s an amazing feeling, I feel pretty honoured just to score at a World Cup.
“To do three or four is an amazing feeling and I guess that’s something I will tell my kids when I get older.”
Add her maiden World Cup goal against Italy last week and she’s equal top of the golden boot race at this World Cup on five with American superstar Alex Morgan - whose haul came courtesy of a 13-0 win over minnows Thailand.
At club level, Kerr splits her time between Australia and the US. She’s a star with in National Women’s Soccer League with Chicago Red Stars and in Australia’s W-League with the Perth Glory.
She scores at an average of nearly one goal per game since the start of 2018.
But the fact Kerr doesn’t like to deal in the singular may have saved Australia from an early tournament exit and helped them finish second in their group and book a round-of-16 clash with Norway in Nice this weekend.
Her first two goals were trademark headers, the second two reward for hard work and audacity.
“I’m just naturally gifted,” Kerr said.
“I’m not a religious person but if I was I’d say I’m blessed with it. I grew up watching Timmy Cahill.”
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