Football
ESPN staff 7y

Matildas' Sam Kerr snubbed for FIFA Women's Player of the Year award

Matildas star Sam Kerr has shockingly been snubbed for the FIFA Women's Player of the Year 2017 award, with the final three candidates named overnight.

Kerr was one of 10 players shortlisted for the top FIFA award in August, but was cut from the final three with Netherlands international Lieke Martens, United States star Carli Lloyd and Venezuela's Deyna Castellanos named as the final candidates on Friday night, with the winner to be presented their award on Monday.

Matildas teammates Lisa De Vanna and Caitlin Foord were quick to vent their frustrations on Twitter alongside fans who felt the Matildas star was hard done by.

Kerr has received several plaudits throughout 2017 following her performances in the W-League, National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and with the Matildas.

While she fell short of a W-League championship in 2017, she was awarded the Julie Dolan Medal -- the W-League's top honour -- after her 10 goals led Perth Glory to the grand final.

Last month, she became the NWSL's all-time leading scorer with Sky Blue FC, and levelled the record for most goals in a single NWSL season with 16 goals.

Her time with the Matildas in 2017 has seen her net a first-half hat trick against Japan at the Tournament of Nations, before capping off the tournament with a goal in Australia's 6-1 demolition of Brazil. And just this week, Kerr scored three goals for the Matildas in their two friendlies against Brazil in Penrith and Newcastle.

Kerr has made her return to Sky Blue for the remainder of the NWSL season, but will rejoin Australia for the Matildas' two friendlies against China in Melbourne and Geelong in November in preparation for the 2018 AFC Asian Cup, and will also return to the W-League at the end of the year.

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