Logarzo: Westfield Matildas star is world’s best

She’s short-listed for the FIFA Women’s Footballer of the Year award but Sam Kerr is clearly the best player on the planet right now, according to Westfield Matildas midfielder Chloe Logarzo.

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Kerr is one of 10 players in the running for the coveted FIFA award – the first Australian, male or female, to be nominated – after an incredible 12 months for both club and country.

A YEAR TO REMEMBER

After a stellar 2016/17 W-League campaign, Kerr claimed the Julie Dolan Medal as the competition’s best player after her 10 goals led Perth Glory to the Grand Final.

Kerr then became the National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) all-time leading scorer earlier this year and bagged a remarkable 4-goal haul in Sky Blue FC’s 5-4 win over Seattle last month.

The WA-born attacker also equalled Kim Little’s record for most goals in a single NWSL season (16 goals).

For the Matildas, Kerr has been in irresistible touch.

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She netted a first-half hat-trick for the Matildas against Japan at the Tournament of Nations just over a month ago and capped it off with a goal in Australia’s 6-1 demolition of Brazil.

On home soil, Kerr netted three times in the two-game series against Brazil to help Australia to a clean sweep over their South American rivals.

ON CLOUD NINE

Speaking prior to Australia’s 3-2 win over Brazil in Newcastle, Logarzo admitted Kerr’s stunning form is rubbing off on the teammates around her.

“I think she’s very much up there. She’s definitely in my eyes the best player in the world at the moment - the most consistent,” Logarzo told  matildas.footballaustralia.com.au.

“In the last two years she’s really gone from zero to 100. She’s always been in the team and always been a key player but she’s really sky rocketed in the last two years and matured so much as a player.

Westfield Matildas players celebrate a goal in their 3-2 win over Brazil in Newcastle.

“There’s a lot of things that I want to take out of her book.

“She’s just on cloud nine at the moment and hopefully she stays there because she’s bringing the whole team up with her.”

HUMBLE HERO

Despite her incredible exploits and huge public profile, Kerr’s humility and team-first attitude is one of the reasons she is hugely popular amongst fans and teammates alike.

“She’s very humble. I think that’s a major part of why she’s so loveable as well within the team,” Logarzo said.

“She’s such a key player and it’s nice to be surrounded by players like her and Emily (Van Egmond) and everyone else in the team."