Sam Kerr shortlisted for world’s best player award
Australian football superstar Sam Kerr has been shortlisted for the FIFA award for best women's player for a second consecutive year.
The world-class forward's national team mentor, Matildas coach Alen Stajcic, is also in the running for the award for best coach in women's football.
Kerr's firepower and Stajcic's guidance helped the Matildas reach an all time high ranking of world number four at the end of 2017.
They enjoyed two victories against Brazil and also lost the final of the Asian Cup to Japan during the voting period from August 7, 2017 to May 24, 2018.
The Matildas are currently ranked eighth in the world.
Among Kerr's 10 rivals for best women's player award are six players from European and French champions Lyon, including captain Wendie Renard of France, plus Dzsenifer Marozsan and Saki Kumagai, the captains of Germany and Japan.
US international Megan Rapinoe and five-time award winner Marta of Brazil have also been nominated.
Stajcic is vying for his coaching award with 2017 winner and Netherlands coach Sarina Wiegman, and Japan coach Asako Takakura.
Mbappe, Modric up against Messi, Ronaldo for men's award
In the men's game, France's Kylian Mbappe and Croatia's Luka Modric will challenge the decade-long dominance of FIFA's best player award by Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina's Lionel Messi.
France also has Antoine Griezmann and Raphael Varane, who won a third straight Champions League title, on the FIFA list.
Belgium has Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard on a shortlist completed by World Cup golden boot winner England captain Harry Kane and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah.
In the men's football best coach category Didier Deschamps, who led France to win the World Cup, and his 1998 World Cup-winning teammate Zidane, who coached Real Madrid to a third straight Champions League title, lead a field of 11 contenders.
The winners to be announced in London on September 24 are voted by national coaches and captains, plus media from FIFA's 211 member countries, and fans voting online.
AP
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ABC .net
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