SYDNEY, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Australian striker Sam Kerr has been nominated on Tuesday for this year's Ballon d'Or award, the first time one football's top honors will also have a women's category.
Kerr has starred for national women's side, the Matildas, on numerous occasions including recently at the Tournament of Nations where she scored four goals, spurring her team to victory over the top ranked U.S. side.
As well as previously claiming a number of titles including Asian player of the year, young Australian of the year and the Football Media's Association player of the year, the 25-year old holds the record for leading all-time goalscorer in the U.S. women's soccer league.
Kerr is up against 15 other nominees, including Brazilian star forward Marta, along with Norway's Ada Hegerberg and German international Dzsenifer Marozsan.
The Ballon d'Or has been awarded since 1956 by France Football Magazine for best male player in the world with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi dominating the last few years taking home five wins each.
It will be presented in Paris on December 3.
