The Australian women’s soccer team had a disappointing finish in the World Cup, coming in fourth place after losing the third-place play-off against Sweden with a score of 2-0. Despite the outcome, this is their best performance in the tournament to date. One of the standout moments that will be remembered is when Matildas captain Sam Kerr struck a fierce long-range shot against England in the semi-finals. Although they also lost that game, Kerr’s powerful and precise shot was impressive enough to make Roberto Carlos proud.
Many people are unaware of Kerr’s strong Indian heritage. The 29-year-old Australian football captain has a deep desire to reconnect with the country where her parents migrated from. Her father, Roger, is Anglo-Indian, born in Kolkata to an English father and an Indian mother. In December 2020, Kerr spoke to the BBC about her plans to be a role model for young Indian girls, saying, “My family has been in Australia for 40 years now, and I still don’t know much about India. I’m really proud to be Indian and love my skin color and my ‘Indian complexion,’ as my Nana says.” By “Nana,” she is referring to her grandmother.
Born in Fremantle, Perth, Sam Kerr is the youngest of four siblings. As a child, she had a passion for playing sports and would spend her time running around, kicking balls, and playing cricket. In her recently released autobiography, “My Journey to the World Cup,” she talks about her love for sports during her childhood.
Kerr, known for her goal-scoring ability, has scored 64 international goals and is famous for her celebratory cartwheels and backflips. She dedicated a lot of time to perfecting these skills, even practicing during her lunch breaks until she got them right, much to the surprise of her teachers and classmates.
In her BBC interview, Kerr also discussed her family’s immigrant experience. She shared how she listened to her nan (grandmother) and her father’s stories about moving to Australia, feeling like outsiders, and having to work hard to integrate into a society that was not yet very multicultural. These stories have greatly influenced her and taught her to accept people for who they are.
With 124 caps and 64 international goals, Sam Kerr is one of the biggest stars in Australian football. She scored six goals during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Standing at five feet, six inches tall, she plays professional football for Chelsea and was the first Australian woman footballer to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or Féminin, finishing among the top three in 2021 and 2022.
In February of this year, the Matildas wore jerseys with rainbow pride numbers during a game held as part of Sydney’s World Pride event. Kerr, who is in a relationship with US footballer Kristie Mewis, expressed her belief that everyone should feel comfortable in their own skin and love whomever they choose. She emphasized the importance of kindness and inclusivity.
Kerr has a large following on Instagram, with 1.6 million followers, many of them Indians. She appears in commercials for brands such as Rexona, Nike, IWC watches, and Lego. In a recent post, she expressed her belief that women’s football is here to stay, highlighting their achievements and their determination to break records and continue progressing. Followers of Australian football surely share her sentiment.