Sam Kerr: Matildas captain and Chelsea superstar striker suffers devastating ACL injury

Matildas captain and Chelsea star Sam Kerr has suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, both club and country have confirmed.

The Perth-born global megastar was injured during a Chelsea training camp in Morocco.

While there is no confirmed timeframe around her return to football, it is likely Kerr will miss around 12 months.

It means Kerr will miss this year’s Paris Olympics.

She will return to London and have her recovery managed by Chelsea staff, but Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said she would also have the backing of the national team.

“Considering how hard Sam has worked over the past six months to return to play, this news is a devastating blow for everyone,” he said.

“With her ability to lead by example, Sam’s guidance and influence on the team is significant and, as a result, this will be an incredible loss for the national team.

“Our focus now is on ensuring she has all the support she wants and needs to navigate recovery and rehab.”

Chelsea said she “will be assessed by a specialist in the coming days and then begin her rehabilitation with the club’s medical team”.

“Everyone at Chelsea would like to wish Sam the very best for her recovery,” a team statement read.

It was another injury, to her calf, that rocked Australia just hours before the opening game of the country’s home World Cup last year.

Kerr returned to star in the tournament and scored a remarkable goal in the semifinal defeat to England in Sydney.

She then thrilled her home fans in Perth across three Olympic qualifying games — including one at a sold-out Optus Stadium.

Kerr and her partner and fellow professional player Kristie Mewis were in Perth last week, where she trained at a local academy.

Chelsea are currently on a mid-season break from England’s Women’s Super League.