Beth Mead, a forward for England and Arsenal, has been selected as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2022.
At Euro 2022, where the Lionesses defeated Germany in the championship game at Wembley to win England’s first significant women’s football trophy, Mead was the player of the competition and the tournament’s leading scorer.
The 27-year-old is the first female football player to get the honour.
Ben Stokes, the Test captain for England’s cricket team, came in second, followed by Olympic curling champion Eve Muirhead.
Ronnie O’Sullivan, a seven-time global snooker champion, Jessica Gadirova, a world champion gymnast on the floor, and Jake Wightman were also named as finalists for the award before the public voted to determine the winner.
Mead stated, “I am tremendously honoured to have received this award. Without the females, I couldn’t have accomplished this. My team has supported me. While I have achieved this honour and scored a few goals, I couldn’t have done it without them.
“This is in support of women’s sports and the advancement of women’s sports. Girls, keep pushing yourself and keep acting morally.
Mead’s outstanding play at Euro 2022 earned her the title of player of the competition and the Golden Boot with six goals and five assists.
She also won the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award in 2022, was voted Arsenal’s player of the season and finished second in the Ballon d’Or Feminin.
In 19 matches, she scored 20 goals for her country, breaking Jimmy Greaves’ previous mark of 13 goals set in 1960–1961.
Sarina Wiegman, England’s head coach, was named Coach of the Year. Sarina Wiegman’s team went unbeaten in all 20 games they played in 2022, scoring 72 goals and giving up seven in 16 victories and four draws.
