Matildas captain Sam Kerr voted second-best player in the world but fails to be named in first XI
Sam Kerr has missed selection in the FIFPRO women’s world XI despite being voted the second best women’s player in the world for 2021.
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Matildas captain Sam Kerr has been overlooked for a spot in the FIFPRO women’s world XI despite finishing second in the annual FIFA best player awards.
And Kerr wasn’t the only shock exclusion from the world XI, with women’s player of the year Alexia Putellas and third-placed Jenni Hermoso also missing selection.
The world XI was voted on by thousands of players from around the world.
The women’s player-of-the-year award was voted on by all women’s national team coaches, the current captains of all women’s national sides, one specialist journalist from each territory represented by a national team and fans from all over the world registered on FIFA.com.
Barcelona’s Putellas polled 52 votes, 14 more than Kerr, with Spain’s Hermoso polling 33.
Kerr voted for Putellas, while Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson voted for Kerr.
Kerr’s Chelsea coach Emma Hayes was named best women’s manager.
Kerr is currently in India with the Matildas squad preparing for the Asian Cup.
Australia’s opening match of the tournament is on Friday night against Indonesia in Mumbai.
Matildas defender Ellie Carpenter made no secret of Australia’s intention to win the tournament.
Australia won its only women’s Asian Cup in 2010 and has finished second three times.
“We want to win tournaments, we want to win trophies,” Carpenter said.
“We want to put pressure on ourselves to be able to win this and back up good performance after good performance.
“We’re ready to do that. A game every two days is tough, but we have the squad and the depth to do that this tournament.”
Originally published as Matildas captain Sam Kerr voted second-best player in the world but fails to be named in first XI
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