Sam Kerr’s cheeky message for English rival who helped break Australian hearts in Women’s World Cup semi-final

Sam Kerr has paid tribute to Chelsea teammate Niamh Charles after the left-back chalked up 150 career appearances for Chelsea.

Kerr, 31, posted an Instagram story acknowledging the achievement, before cheekily adding: ‘only time I’ll give you kudos.’

Charles, 25, featured at the Women’s World Cup in 2023, where England’s Lionesses broke Australian hearts in the semi-final.  

The defender has long admired Kerr’s tenacity, previously labelling her a ‘machine’ on the pitch.

It comes as the Matildas captain, 31, looks to revive her public image following her recent court saga in London.

The Blues striker was found not guilty of racially aggravated abuse after calling a police officer ‘stupid and white’ during a heated row at a London police station just over two years ago.

Niamh Charles featured at the Women’s World Cup in 2023, where England’s Lionesses broke Australian hearts in the semi-final

Niamh Charles and Sam Kerr are long time teammates at Chelsea (pictured, Kerr’s Instagram story)

Meanwhile, Sam Kerr insists she is ‘fully focused on getting back on to the pitch’ after she was cleared of racially aggravated harassment of a police officer on February 11 following an incident in 2023

The Chelsea star, who has not played in over a year following an ACL injury, stated she had ‘not intended to insult or harm anyone’

Kerr directed the comments at PC Stephen Lovell when she was taken to the station by a taxi driver after she vomited in his vehicle and her fiancée Kristie Mewis smashed in a window.

Australia’s best ever female footballer told jurors she feared herself and US international Kristie Mewis were being kidnapped by the taxi driver – and she made the comments because PC Lovell was failing to listen or understand his ‘privileged position’ as a male.

PC Lovell claimed he felt ‘belittled and upset’ by Kerr following her alleged comments.

She was acquitted by a jury at Kingston Crown Court after just over four hours’ deliberations.

Kerr then re-affirmed she had not ‘intended to insult or harm anyone’ with a statement after the trial.

‘Following the not guilty verdict, I can finally put this challenging period behind me,’ the Chelsea star said.

‘While I apologise for expressing myself poorly on what was a traumatic evening, I have always maintained that I did not intend to insult or harm anyone and I am thankful the jury unanimously agreed.’

Despite the not guilty verdict, calls have come for Kerr to be stripped of the Matildas captaincy from the likes of football commentator Lucy Zelic and ex-Socceroo Bruce Djite.

Football Australia are yet to confirm if Kerr will remain on as skipper, as she continues to recover from an ACL injury sustained at a Chelsea training camp in January last year.