An unlikely start and an on-field romance: The story of Australia's greatest athlete, Sam Kerr.

Sam Kerr is the face of Australian sport - and that couldn't be more exciting.

Matildas captain Kerr, who is renowned as one of the best players in the world, is leading the team through one of the greatest sporting moments in Australia's history: a FIFA Women's World Cup campaign on home soil.

Here's a deeper look at Sam Kerr, the woman Australia can't stop talking about.

Sam Kerr started in AFL.

Kerr comes from a family of incredible sporting talent.

Her father Roger Kerr is a former AFL player and coach of WAFL. Her brother, Daniel Kerr, was also an Aussie Rules player, representing the West Coast Eagles between 2001 and 2013.

Kerr herself played AFL growing up, and was reluctant to switch to soccer. But with no local AFL team to join, she made the switch at 12 years old.

"Being taken away from footy really sucked," she told The Guardian. "I just went from being at the top of my game, as much as you can as a kid, to going to the bottom moving to football. I didn’t know the rules, I didn’t know offside, I didn’t understand why no one would pass me the ball."

But needless to say, Kerr quickly realised her talent in the game, and by age 15 made her national team debut.

Kerr is known for her backflip celebrations on the field. Image: Getty.

Sam Kerr's incredible football successes.

Kerr is considered one of the greatest strikers in the world, and her very long list of achievements is proof of that.

She debuted for the Matildas at only 15, scored her first international goal at 16 and was selected for her first World Cup at 17.

She is the only woman to have won the Golden Boot — awarded to the player who scores most goals in the tournament —  in three different leagues.

Kerr has also been integral to the success of Chelsea in the FA Women's Super League, with the team being one of the most dominant forces in women's football, and has so far won eight trophies with the club.

Sam Kerr's life off the field.

Sam Kerr has another love in her life other than soccer: Her partner Kristie Mewis.

Mewis is an American national player, who also plays for Gotham FC in New Jersey.

They met while playing a match against each other, and after following each other on Instagram, the pandemic offered unique circumstances for a relationship to blossom.

Kerr told Gaffer they were "forced to talk" for months before being able to meet in person.

"It was about three or four months until we could hang out in person," she said.

"The first time we ever met there was quarantine, so we had to spend two weeks together. I was thinking, 'if I don't like her this is going to be awkward.'"

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A post shared by Sam Kerr (@samanthakerr20)

In 2021, amid the Tokyo Olympics, the pair went official with their relationship. 

In Disney+'s docuseries The Matildas: The World at Our Feet, released just before the World Cup, the couple reflected on their long-distance relationship.

"Being away from her is like one of the hardest things I have to do every single day, because she's such an important person in my life. She's my best friend - I want to do everything with her," Mewis said.

"Sam is very funny. She makes me laugh always. As a person, as a teammate, as a leader, she's kind of like the whole package."

Kerr previously dated American player Nikki Stanton.

This article was originally published in 2019 and has since been updated.

Feature image: Getty/Mamamia.