Chelsea: Sam Kerr congratulated by Billie Jean King on making UWCL history | OneFootball

Sam Kerr made history in the Women’s Champions League this week and tennis legend Billie Jean King has lauded her achievement.

The Australian striker scored four times for Chelsea against Vllaznia in their UWCL group-stage game –– becoming the first player to score four in a Women’s Champions League group-stage match.

Pernille Harder also grabbed a hat-trick in the game as the Blues won the match 8-0.

Fans have hailed Kerr’s outstanding performance online and King has now paid tribute to the Australian herself.

What did Billie Jean King say about Sam Kerr?

King is a former tennis star, who won 39 major titles across her career.

The American is widely considered one of the best female athletes of all time and famously won the “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match in 1973.

Having long been an advocate for gender equality, it’s no surprise to see King offering praise to one of the best female athletes on the planet.

“Making history,” King wrote in reply to a tweet that outlined Kerr’s record-breaking performance.

She added: “Congratulations, @samkerr1 and @ChelseaFCW.”

How are Chelsea doing in the Women’s Champions League?

Chelsea have now won both of their games so far in the Champions League this season and sit top of Group A on six points.

The Blues beat last year’s semi-finalists PSG 1-0 in their opening match and face a tricky away trip to Real Madrid on November 23rd.

Madrid qualified for the competition by knocking out Man City for the second season in a row.

Chelsea are still searching for their first European silverware, having lost in the 2020/21 final to Barcelona.

Last year, they were knocked out in the group stages, after finishing behind Wolfsburg and Juventus.

Where did Sam Kerr finish in the Ballon d’Or?

Kerr won the WSL Golden Boot for the second season in a row last year – scoring 20 league goals in just 20 starts and helping the Blues win a third consecutive league title.

For her performances, the Australian finished third in the 2022 Women’s Ballon d’Or, behind Alexia Putellas and Beth Mead.

It’s the second year in succession that Kerr has come third, with Putellas having won the award on both occasions.

Fellow Chelsea star Millie Bright was also on the Ballon d’Or shortlist and ended up 15th.

Kerr has now been nominated for the award every year since its inception but is still yet to be named the winner.