Matildas and Chelsea striker Sam Kerr has been named in the 2023 FIFA FIFPRO’s Women’s World XI, the annual global player-voted team of the season, for a second time.

Kerr was revealed as a member of the 11-player team at The Best FIFA Football Awards, held in London on Monday night, alongside a star-studded line-up of the world’s best women’s footballers.

The World XI is the only global player award organised by the players for the players, with thousands of professional footballers worldwide voting on the composition of the team each year. Kerr was first named in the World XI in 2022, and on the 23-player shortlist in 2020 and 2021.

Reflecting on her consecutive selection, Kerr, who was unable to attend the event in person as she recovers from an ACL injury, said:

“It is a huge honour to be voted into the 2023 FIFA FIFPRO World XI by the players. To have the respect and acknowledgement of your peers is something that is hugely special to any player.

“Many thanks to my Matildas and Chelsea teammates for making this possible and to all the players who voted for me.”

The award considers the performance of international footballers during the period 1 August 2022 to 20 August 2023 (inclusive), with players required to appear in at least 25 official matches during that period to be eligible.

Kerr was the leading goal scorer for Chelsea and the Matildas in 2023, scoring 37 goals for club and country, helping to guide the Matildas to a semi-final berth at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. For Chelsea, Kerr helped the London club to a third consecutive Women’s FA Cup title and a fourth consecutive Women’s Super League title.

Kerr’s international teammate Mackenzie Arnold was named as one of the final three nominees in the goalkeeper category, alongside eventual winner Mary Earps (England and Manchester United) and the United States and Chicago Red Stars’ Alyssa Naeher.

The FIFA FIFPro’s Women’s World XI for 2023 is as follows:

In position order: name (club/current club, country)

Goalkeeper:
Mary Earps (Manchester United, England)

Defenders: 
Olga Carmona (Real Madrid, Spain), Lucy Bronze (Barcelona, England), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City, England)

Midfielders: Keira Walsh (Barcelona, England), Ella Toone (Manchester United, England), Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona, Spain)



Forwards:
Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave, USA),
Sam Kerr (Chelsea, Australia), Alessia Russo (Manchester United/Arsenal, England), Lauren James (Chelsea, England)

How did the voting work?

The 2023 FIFA FIFPRO World 11 was voted for by professional footballers from 69 countries. FIFPRO and affiliated player unions distributed unique links that gave players access to a digital voting platform. Women’s football players were asked to vote for their peers based on their performances from 1 August 2022 to 20 August 2023 inclusive. Players in the World 11 must have appeared in at least 25 official matches during that period.

Footballers picked the three players who, in their opinion, were the most outstanding in each of the following positions: goalkeeper, defence, midfield and forward.

The goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards with the most votes in their position made it into the World 11. The 11th spot was assigned to the outfield player with the next highest number of votes.

Players were free to choose any of their peers. The voting tool contained a suggestion list, but players were allowed to add other names if they were not mentioned on that list.