Australian football great Sam Kerr was revealed this week as FIFA 23’s global cover star.
In FIFA’s 20-year history, a woman has never appeared on the cover of the global hit game, until now.
Sam Kerr has been unveiled as FIFA 23’s global cover athlete and is the first woman to do so. (EA)
After having a few days to freshen up, 9News.com.au sat down with the Matildas captain who says it’s like a dream come true.
“Obviously, it’s like a dream come true to be on the cover of FIFA. I think every kid growing up plays FIFA, whether you’re a football fan or not,” he said.
Kerr says he’s known about his latest feat for a few months now, telling 9News it was a hard secret to keep.
“It’s been hard. But obviously, I shared it with my close friends and family. But yeah, nothing as big as it was when it premiered a few days ago,” he said.
Sam Kerr has been playing for Chelsea in the FA Women’s Super League for two years. He now shares the cover with French footballer Kylian Mbappé.
Sam Kerr says being on the cover of FIFA 23 is a dream come true. (new)
She says being on the cover of a game like FIFA is a massive deal, something her family acknowledges as well.
“My mom knows how much I love FIFA, you know, the game. It was a big part of our family. So I think they’re really excited for me just because they know what it means to me. . and just being in the game is amazing. And then being on the cover. It’s wild,” he said.
FIFA 23 is EA’s last football game to feature the FIFA name, future games will be re-titled “EA Sports FC”.
Kerr says inspiring a new generation of athletes, particularly young women, keeps her going.
“I think it’s like, why do I still go out on the field and do what I do,” he said.
Kylian Mbappe and Sam Kerr on the cover of FIFA 23. (Twitter)
“Because I know a lot of people were watching me and following my journey. And yeah, it’s like, it’s been a motivating thing for me the last two years is like, all the people who support me, whether it’s close or I get a lot of love from all my fans around the world.
“I feel like I’m so lucky. So for me, it’s like, it’s like mind-blowing that people look at me and all that stuff. But at the same time, I really like it. I really love it. .”
FIFA 23 is the most accurate representation of Sam Kerr ever, down to the smallest detail, he told 9News.com.au.
“They even have like the bracelet that I wear on my wrist to the games. I’m super superstitious and, like, I have this bracelet because I don’t like to break it and, like, I always wear this bracelet,” she said.
“So it’s like little things like that that they’ve taken into account this year that they really like.”
The Matilda captain says she is very excited to score some goals in the number 20 shirt, having been playing FIFA games since she was a child.
Sam Kerr points out the smaller details added to the game, including his lucky bracelet. (EA SPORTS)
“I was always like a Wayne Rooney, a Ronaldo fan. I was always like choosing between these two teams, like when Rooney was playing, obviously it was Man United, but then towards the end of my time I started to like very play seriously. , Ronaldo was at Real Madrid,” he said.
“I’ve always loved doing the London derby it’s weird, because I’d like Tottenham v Arsenal, I don’t know why.”
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The game will be released on September 30 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Kerr says she loves people who play like her in the FIFA games, which allows fans to really connect with their favorite footballers.
“People label me playing the way I do and I think that’s part of having women’s football in the game. It’s given the game, the women’s game, a lot more exposure,” she said.