For the first time in history, two Australians have made the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or, with Matildas Sam Kerr and Hayley Raso in the running for football’s most prestigious individual award.
While Kerr’s selection was somewhat expected having scored 29 goals in 38 appearances for Chelsea last season, Raso’s nomination was her first following her starring role at the World Cup, despite struggling to get game time for Manchester City in the Women’s Super League last season, which forced a move to Real Madrid.
Kerr’s nomination means she’ has been nominated every year since the female Ballon d’Or Féminin was introduced in 2018, along with France’s Wendy Renard.
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The Matildas captain has finished in the top 10 in each vote, placing third in 2021 and 2022.
However, they each face a tough challenge to win the top award with Spain’s Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona) the hot favourite after claiming the UEFA Player of the Year award ahead of Kerr, as well as the Golden Ball award for most valuable player at the World Cup.
Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi is back in contention for the prestigious award a year being omitted from the nomination list, which this time doesn’t include longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi, who led Argentina to the World Cup title in December, was named to the 30-man list of nominees along with Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé for the prestigious award.
Ronaldo, a five-time winner who now plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, didn’t make the cut for the first time since 2003.
The winner will be announced in Paris on October 30.
France Football magazine has given out the award to men every year since 1956 and to women each year since 2018 — when Ada Hegerberg became the first female winner — though both were cancelled in 2020 because of the pandemic.
Bonmati is one of six female nominees from Spain, most of whom played for the team that won the Women’s World Cup.
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“Grateful and proud to be nominated alongside great players,” Bonmati said on social media.
Haaland is one of seven Manchester City players on the men’s list. Last year’s winner, Karim Benzema, was also nominated.
Two-time winner Alexia Putellas didn’t make the women’s list after missing much of last year with an ACL injury.