Arsenal and England forward Beth Mead has been crowned BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year for 2022.
Mead was part of the history-making Lionesses squad in the summer that won Euro 2022 in front of a record-breaking crowd at Wembley Stadium as they defeated Germany 2-1.
She played a starring role for England boss Sarina Wiegman over the course of the tournament, winning the Golden Boot award as well as Player of the Tournament.
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The 27-year-old was also named as runner-up in this year’s Ballon d’Or, which took place in Paris last month.
"I don't think I've quite processed it yet. It's a huge honour for me," Mead told BBC Sport.
"I've just been enjoying my football this season and for me, these are nice trophies to get hold of, but again, I continue to keep saying it and it's becoming a cliche now, but I wouldn't have got these without my team-mates throughout the season at Arsenal, throughout the season for the international team."
Chelsea striker Sam Kerr came second and Barcelona and 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas came third. The other two nominees for the BBC honour were Germany’s Alexandra Popp and France’s captain Wendie Renard.
The award was decided by fan votes on the BBC Sport website after a panel of experts including players, coaches, administrators and journalists, concocted the five-player shortlist.
Mead, who has scored 29 goals in 49 games for England, was presented with the award by her former England teammate and the Lionesses’ record scorer Ellen White.
She told BBC Sport: "I think she can go on to score so many goals for England, the sky is the limit for her.
"What she's achieved in her career so far, and her development, the way that she's so focused on her performance, and what she's doing at Arsenal, I think it's incredible and it bodes well for the England team."
Mead scored 11 goals for Arsenal in the Women’s Super League in 2021-22 and although she scored the same amount of goals (six) as Popp at Euro 2022, her four assists saw her clinch the prestigious Golden Boot award.
