Sam Kerr falls short in awards as football fans erupt over 'robbery'

Football fans were left questioning whether Sam Kerr deserved to be third in the Women's Ballon d'Or after just missing out once again in the prestigious awards.

Kerr was one of the favourites to win the award but finished third as Barcelona's Alexia Putellas won the award for the second year in succession.

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Arsenal's Beth Mead finished second.

The Matildas captain and Chelsea forward emulated her achievement of last year, when she was also finished third in the chase for football's most-prestigious individual award.

The men's version of the award was won by Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema.

Kerr boasted insane records in 2021/22 after winning the domestic double of the Women's Super League and FA Cup.

She added another golden boot award scoring 23 league goals, which included 10 assists.

However, Putellas also showed why she was a deserved winner having also won the domestic league-cup double in Spain.

Putellas guided Barcelona to a second-straight Champions League final, where she scored in her team's defeat.

Her scoring feats were also remarkable.

Putellas shined in the Champions League scoring 10 goals in 11 games, while she recorded 18 goals and 15 assists in the league.

Kerr was the only Australian in the top 20.

Despite a strong standing in the rankings, many Chelsea fans were left stunned Kerr didn't win the award or at least finish second.

Some pointed to the fact that Kerr won the player of the year award in her league, but finished behind Mead.

This led to some backlash on social media.

Karim Benzema takes out Ballon d'Or award

While there was some argument over the women's winner, there was little doubt over the Frenchman taking out the men's award.

Benzema - who scored 44 goals as he guided Real Madrid to a La Liga and Champions League double - finished ahead of Robert Lewandowski, Sadio Mane and Kevin de Bruyne.

Winning in the year of his 10th nomination, he became the first French player to collect the coveted trophy since Zinedine Zidane in 1998.

"This prize in front of me makes me really proud," he said at the ceremony.

"When I was small, it was a childhood dream, I never gave up. Anything is possible."

The Kopa Trophy for the best under-21 player went to 18-year-old Barcelona midfielder Gavi, while Lewandowski won the Gerd Muller award for the best striker of the year.

The Lev Yashin award for best goalkeeper went to Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois.

Created by the prestigious France Football magazine, the Ballon d'Or is voted on by a panel of journalists from around the world.

It has been presented to men every year since 1956, when it was won by England's Stanley Matthews won.

The women's trophy has been awarded since 2018.

with AAP

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