Sam Kerr’s brilliant season for club and country has not been enough to earn the Matildas’ captain a place in the final three contenders for the FIFA Best women’s player of the year award.

But Jenni Hermoso, Spain’s World Cup winner who had to endure the infamous unwanted post-final kiss on the lips from an official in Sydney that caused shock waves throughout soccer, has been listed along with teammate Aitana Bonmati for the big prize.

For the equivalent men’s award, holder and serial winner LioneI Messi will line up against Manchester City’s goal machine Erling Haaland and Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe for the governing body’s major annual award.

Chelsea striker Kerr, runner-up in October’s voting for the Ballon d’Or Feminin — recognised as the most prestigious individual honour in the game — had also been expected to contend again after being on the 16-woman longlist for the FIFA Best title.

Kerr’s fellow Matildas Mary Fowler and Caitlin Foord had also been on that list, but none of the Australians made Thursday’s final shortlist of Bonmati, Hermoso, and young Colombian star Linda Caicedo.

Kerr had a sensational year for Chelsea, helping shoot them to an FA Cup and Women’s Super League double, while also overcoming injury woes to help Australia to the World Cup semi-finals, where she scored the goal of the tournament against England.