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Matildas Sam Kerr and Hayley Raso have been nominated for the Ballon d\u2019Or \u2013 the first time two Australians have made the shortlist for football\u2019s most prestigious individual award.<\/p>\n
Kerr \u2013 along with France\u2019s Wendy Renard (Lyon) \u2013 has been nominated every year since the female Ballon d\u2019Or F\u00e9minin was introduced in 2018. The Matildas captain has finished in the top 10 in each vote, placing third in 2021 and 2022.<\/p>\n
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Hayley Raso and Sam Kerr have both been nominated for the Ballon d\u2019Or.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Edwina Pickles<\/cite><\/p>\n Raso\u2019s nomination is her first and comes despite struggling to get game time for Manchester City in the Women\u2019s Super League last season. She switched to Real Madrid prior to the World Cup, where she starred for the Matildas with three goals and an assist.<\/p>\n Both face an uphill task winning the top gong, however, with Spain\u2019s 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. Bonmati was nominated alongside fellow World Cup winners Olga Carmona (Real Madrid), Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona) and Alba Redondo (Levante). Patricia Guijarro and Mapi Leon (both Barcelona), two of the 15 players who made themselves unavailable for Spain as part of a protest against the federation\u2019s management of the squad, were also named despite missing the World Cup.<\/p>\n England stars Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Mary Earps (Manchester United), Millie Bright (Chelsea) and the Women\u2019s Super League golden boot Rachel Daly (Aston Villa) all made the list, as did World Cup golden boot Hinata Miyazawa of Japan and Manchester United.<\/p>\n Kadidiatou Diani (Lyon) joined Renard as the only other Frenchwoman on the list, while Linca Caicedo (Real Madrid) was nominated after a breakout World Cup for Colombia.<\/p>\n The Ballon d\u2019Or recognises the best player in world football over the course of a season. It was changed last year from a calendar year format, meaning this year\u2019s awards cover the 2022-2023 playing season.<\/p>\n The shortlists for the Yachin Trophy for best goalkeeper and the Kopa Trophy for best young player were also revealed.<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\nMost Viewed in Sport<\/h2>\n