Kerr shortlisted for world's best player award

3 years ago 393

Australian striker Sam Kerr has been shortlisted for the astir prestigious grant successful satellite football, being named 1 of the 20 contenders for the Ballon d'Or.

The yearly grant from France Football has been awarded to antheral footballers since 1956, and was archetypal fixed to pistillate players successful 2018.

Norweigan prima Ada Hegerberg won the inaugural award, earlier American Megan Rapinoe claimed the prize successful 2019. It was not awarded past twelvemonth owed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kerr finished the 2020/21 run arsenic Chelsea's apical scorer with 28 goals successful each competitions, reached the semi-finals astatine the Olympics with Australia, and volition pb the squad retired successful historical friendlies against the USA aboriginal this month.

Kerr's Chelsea teammates Magdalena Eriksson, Jessie Fleming, Pernille Harder and Fran Kirby were besides among the 20 finalists.

Her chap blues Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho, N'Golo Kante, Romelu Lukaku and Mason Mount were among the 30 names connected the shortlist for the men's award.

Only Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric was capable to interruption the duopoly of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi successful the past decade, winning the grant successful 2018. Between 2008 and 2019, Messi claimed six of the remaining 11 awards, with Ronaldo getting the different five.

Both are, of course, shortlisted again this year.

Women's shortlist: Stina Blackstenius, Kadidiatou Diani, Christiane Endler , Magdalena Eriksson, Jessie Fleming, Pernille Harder, Jennifer Hermoso , Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Sam Kerr, Fran Kirby , Ashley Lawrence, Lieke Martens, Vivianne Miedema, Samantha Mewis, Sandra Panos, Irene Paredes, Alexia Putellas, Wendie Renard, Christine Sinclair, Ellen White .

Men's shortlist: Cesar Azpilicueta, Nicolo Barella, Karim Benzema, Leonardo Bonucci, Kevin de Bruyne , Giorgio Chiellini, Ruben Dias, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Bruno Fernandes, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Jorginho, Harry Kane, N'Golo Kante, Simon Kjaer, Robert Lewandowski, Romelu Lukaku, Riyad Mahrez, Lautaro Martinez, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Luka Modric , Gerard Moreno, Mason Mount, Neymar, Pedri, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah , Raheem Sterling, Luis Suarez.

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