Kerr takes on Rapinoe for FIFA best player

Matildas captain Sam Kerr will get a third shot at winning FIFA's best women's player award, while Arsenal Women coach Joe Montemurro is also up for a gong.

Sam Kerr

Sam Kerr in action for the Matildas Source: Getty Images

Matildas captain Sam Kerr has been nominated for a FIFA best women's player award for a third consecutive year while former Melbourne City assistant coach Joe Montemurro is in the running for the best women's coach award.

The 25-year-old Kerr's five goals in four Women's World Cup games helped the Matildas get into the round of 16.

Kerr has already collected two prestigious ESPY awards this year, including for the best international women's soccer player, and was a top scorer for Perth Glory last season and for Chicago Red Stars in the 2018 NWSL.
In fact, Kerr is the NWSL's all-time leading scorer, becoming the first to reach 50 career goals in the American League while also setting a new league benchmark for goals in a season.

However, the Australian striker is up against Megan Rapinoe, who inspired the United States to a second straight World Cup, as well as Rapinoe's US teammates Alex Morgan, Julie Ertz and Rose Lavelle.

Joe Montemurro was nominated after he guided Arsenal Women to their first English Super League title since 2012 in his first full season in charge.

He will face stiff competition in the form of US women's national team coach Jill Ellis, who is favourite to win the award.

Liverpool's Champions League-winning defender Virgil van Dijk will contend with Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Eden Hazard, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong for the best men's player award.

Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp will vie with Pep Guardiola of Manchester City, Brazil's Copa America-winning coach Tite, Ricardo Gareca of runners-up Peru, and Djamel Belmadi of African Nations Cup champions Algeria for the best coach of a men's team.

The winners in all categories will be announced at a gala in Milan on 23 September.


Share
2 min read

Published

Updated



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world