Sam Kerr in line for first women’s Ballon d’Or

Sam Kerr is in line to win arguably soccer’s biggest award after being nominated for the inaugural women’s Ballon d’Or.

Sam Kerr has signed with Perth Glory under the FFA’s marquee player scheme. Picture: Phill Hillyard.

She controversially missed out on two major awards, but Australian superstar Sam Kerr is in line to win arguably the biggest of them all after being nominated for the inaugural women’s Ballon d’Or.

The Matildas star has been included by France Football magazine in a list of 15 of the best players in the world for the award, which will be announced in Paris on ­December 3.

It is the first time the Ballon d’Or will recognise the achievements of women players. The award was instigated by the French magazine in 1956 to honour the best male footballers in the world and has been long overdue in following suit with the women’s game.

Kerr, 25, is already recognised as one of the best players in the world but has missed out on several significant awards lately, including FIFA’s world player of the year and FIFPro’s world’s best XI.

The fact she didn’t even make the final list of three for the FIFA award enraged Australian fans and her Matildas teammates.

The award is voted on by journalists and fans. Brazilian Marta won it for the fifth time, though there are suggestions she won more on reputation than form.

Kerr has had a wondrous 18 months or so at club and international level. She has won awards including the Asian player of the year in 2017; W-League player of the year; and the 2017 NWSL Golden Boot and most valuable player. She was also named in the best XI when playing with Sky Blue FC in the US.

She joined the Chicago Red Stars this season and had a stunning impact, scoring 16 goals in 17 games on her way to a successive NWSL Golden Boot. She was again nominated for MVP of the season but missed out to American Lindsey Horan.

The West Australian recently became the first women’s player to be given marquee status when Football Federation Australia dug into their marquee fund to help her sign with Perth Glory for this season’s W-League.

Her form with the Matildas has been outstanding, though she was given a break from national team duty for the two recent friendlies against France and England.

Kerr has also been nominated for Sport Australia’s The Don award, which recognises athlete and team performances on the international stage. Nominees include cricketer Ellyse Perry and Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo. The winner will be announced tomorrow night.

Kerr faces a strong list of contenders for the Ballon d’Or that includes Marta, Americans Lindsay Horan and Megan Rapinoe and Lieke Martens of The Netherlands.

The list is: Lucy Bronze, Ada Hegerberg, Amandine Henry, Saki Kumagai, Amel Majri, Dzsenifer Marozsan, Wendie Renard (all play with Lyon), Pernille Harder (Wolfsburg), Lindsey Horan, Christine Sinclair (Portland Thorns), Sam Kerr (Chicago Red Stars), Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Marta (Orlando Pride), Lieke Martens (Barcelona), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign).