Australian striker Sam Kerr has been shortlisted for the most prestigious award in world football, being named one of the 20 contenders for the Ballon d’Or.
The annual award from France Football has been awarded to male footballers since 1956, and was first given to female players in 2018.
Norweigan star Ada Hegerberg won the inaugural award, before American Megan Rapinoe claimed the prize in 2019. It was not awarded last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kerr finished the 2020/21 campaign as Chelsea’s top scorer with 28 goals in all competitions, reached the semi-finals at the Olympics with Australia, and will lead the team out in historic friendlies against the USA later this month.
Kerr’s Chelsea teammates Magdalena Eriksson, Jessie Fleming, Pernille Harder and Fran Kirby were also among the 20 finalists.
Her fellow blues Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho, N’Golo Kante, Romelu Lukaku and Mason Mount were among the 30 names on the shortlist for the men’s award.
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Only Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric was able to break the duopoly of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the past decade, winning the award in 2018. Between 2008 and 2019, Messi claimed six of the remaining 11 awards, with Ronaldo getting the other 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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