FIFA 23: Who is Kylian Mbappe's cover co-star Sam Kerr? | OneFootball

EA SPORTS has unveiled the cover of its FIFA 23 Ultimate Edition, featuring global superstars Kylian Mbappé and Sam Kerr.

The release marks the first time in history a women’s football player has appeared on a global FIFA cover.

Here’s everything you need to know about the cover star who has marked a huge milestone in the women’s game.

Who is FIFA 23 cover star Sam Kerr?

Kerr is regarded as one of the best female footballers in the world.

She currently plays for Women’s Super League champions Chelsea and has captained the Australian national team since 2019.

As a typical goalscoring forward, the 28-year-old is the only woman to have won the Golden Boot award in three different leagues – the WSL, the NWSL and the W-League.

Goalscoring portfolio

In January 2022, Kerr officially became Australia’s all-time leading goalscorer after surpassing Tim Cahill’s previous record of 50.

She made her senior debut for the Matildas in 2009 when she was just 15 years of age and has become one of her country’s most iconic players. Her first international goal came when she was 16, putting her up there as one of Australia’s youngest ever goalscorers.

Kerr’s international records don’t stop there either. The striker became the first Australian football player, male or female, to score a hat-trick at a World Cup. She also holds the record for most goals scored for the Aussies in one calendar year with 11, which she achieved in both 2017 and 2019.

Kerr has captained her country at the 2019 World Cup and the 2020 Olympic Games but fell agonisingly short of securing a medal at either tournament.

Global superstar

As well as her legendary status for Australia, Kerr has dominated on the domestic stage.

In 2018, during her second spell with Perth Glory, she won her first Golden Boot in the W-League — Australia’s highest flight of women’s football, now named A-League Women. She retained her honour the following season with another unrivalled goal tally of 13.

Alongside competing in her home country, Kerr also played in the NWSL during the off season in order to stay in top condition.

The forward established herself as the all-time leading goalscorer in both Australia and the US. Her record in the A-League has since been broken, but she remains the NWSL’s highest ever scorer.

Kerr won three consecutive NWSL Golden Boots between 2017 and 2019, as well as finishing as the A-League’s top scorer in the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Eager to find a new challenge, the Aussie moved to England for the first time in her career and signed for Chelsea.

Kerr has won the WSL title every year she has been with the Blues, as well as two FA Cups and two Continental Cups.

It didn’t take her long to put her stamp on the English game either. In both 2021 and 2022, the clinical goalscorer was awarded the Golden Boot, making her the first player in history to win the award on three different continents.

FIFA 23 cover icon

International women’s teams have been playable since 2016 but this will mark the first time a female player will feature on the sleeve of the game.

The franchise has been including more female representation in recent years. FIFA 22 saw the inclusion of Alex Scott, the game’s first ever female commentator.

FIFA 23 is set to feature a World Cup mode, which will cater to both the men’s and women’s tournaments coming up in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

Cover icon Kerr, will lead her country out when Australia and New Zealand host the ninth instalment of the Women’s World Cup next year.

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When was the UEFA Women’s Euro founded?

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