After trailing twice against Manchester United on Sunday, Chelsea stormed back to capture the 2021-22 WSL title behind two incredible Sam Kerr volleys. Kerr finished the season with 20 goals in 20 games, four more than Arsenal's Vivianne Miedema, to claim the Golden Boot — her seventh such individual prize in just six years.
Australia's going to be a problem at next summer's World Cup with the 28-year-old Matildas captain playing like this.
SAM KERR
— ata football (@atafball) May 8, 2022
WOW, that is special, @samkerr1 ☄️
BRB going to watch this on repeat for a few hours… #WatchWithAta #BarclaysFAWSL pic.twitter.com/rpryQPySwY— ata football (@atafball) May 8, 2022
Kerr's influence in securing Chelsea's title on the final matchday was only fitting. She scored clutch goals all season, including a 92nd-minute winner against Aston Villa back in March that drew praise from Brandi Chastain for its celly.
YES YOU DID Sam Kerr. I LOVE it. Hey #AllWomenandGirls Owning your VICTORY moments is critical! Never demure your greatness.Celebrate,it feels amazing& also inspires,then together we rise. Our game is great bcuz of the emotions it conjures up. Keep on keepin’ on.
— Brandi Chastain (@brandichastain) March 14, 2022
Yes, it was the perfect season.
Sam Kerr could run through a brick wall I'm not convinced otherwise... pic.twitter.com/J6vQTRXHv6
— Kelsey Trainor (@ktrain_11) December 8, 2021
"I don't set myself out to win the Golden Boot, I just do what I can for my team to win," Kerr said after the Man United match.
Her incredible streak of Golden Boots began during the 2017 NWSL season with Sky Blue FC. Kerr scored 17 goals in 22 appearances and then quickly joined Perth Glory for its 2017-18 W-League campaign. Kerr scored 13 in nine to claim the Golden Boot there and returned to the NWSL with the Chicago Red Stars. She got 16 in 20 to defend her crown in 2018 and then returned to Australia with Perth and promptly scored 18 in 13 to win back-to-back Golden Boots in the W-League.
It was back to the NWSL and a third straight Golden Boot there after scoring a career high 19 goals in 23 games in 2019, and then Kerr joined Chelsea in January of 2020, right before the COVID-19 pandemic ended the 2019-20 WSL campaign.
So 2020-21 marked her first full season with the Blues, and Kerr scored 21 in 22 to finish three clear of Miedema. 2021-22 was one of her most prolific seasons yet with 20 from 20 in the WSL and 27 in 30 across all competitions. That's seven Golden Boots, spread across three different countries, in six years.
On the men's side, Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed his league's Golden Boot five times, but his only streak was winning LaLiga's Pichichi Trophy in both 2013-14 and 2014-15. Ronaldo does have the unique claim of having won the Golden Boot in England, Spain and Italy.
Lionel Messi won the Pichichi a record eight times. He won it for five consecutive seasons between 2016-17 and 2020-21.
Kerr and Chelsea are in action one final time this season against Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 15.
