Earps named The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper 2023

Mary received the most points accumulated via votes from national-team coaches, captains, journalists and fans, who were tasked with making their first, second and third choices for the prize from a seven-player shortlist.

Our goalkeeper came out on top, pipping fellow finalists Mackenzie Arnold (West Ham and Australia) and Catalina Coll (FC Barcelona and Spain) to the honour.

Earps received votes in recognition for her performances between 1 August 2022 and 20 August 2023, with the results announced at the annual ceremony in London this evening, in which she had already been named in the FIFPRO Women's World 11, alongside United team-mate Ella Toone.

Fresh from playing her part in England's triumphant European Championship campaign on home soil, Mary's magnificent form continued into a historic 2022/23 season for club and country.

Shortly after the turn of the year, she brought up a landmark number of Women’s Super League clean sheets, becoming the first goalkeeper to reach 50 shutouts in our January victory at Reading.

Our no.27 won 2022's The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper award in February before going on to help the Lionesses win the first-ever Women's Finalissima a few months later, playing a starring role as Sarina Wiegman's side beat Brazil on penalties.

Back at club level, Earps helped us to make history by finishing second in the WSL - our highest finish since promotion - and reach an inaugural Women’s FA Cup final. 

United saw out the season with a 1-0 win over Liverpool, in which our backline kept a 14th league clean sheet during of the campaign - a new WSL record, and yet another piece of history for Mary. 

In the summer, she starred in England’s impressive World Cup run Down Under, most notably saving a penalty in a final that the Lionesses were subsequently beaten in. 

She would, however, pick up the Golden Glove award for her efforts in Australia and New Zealand. 

Upon receiving her latest 'The Best' award on the stage at the London ceremony, Mary gave an inspiring acceptance speech, which began: "Thank you very, very much.

"To be honest, last year I won the award but I didn't get in the team of the year, so I thought when I made team of the year this was me done for the night, so I wasn't really hanging my hat on this.

"First of all, I want to say thank you so much to my team-mates who are just unbelievable and I feel incredibly privileged to get to share the pitch with you and learn from you, and make some many incredible memories with you, so thank you. Without you, I would not be able to be on this stage, so thank you so much.

"Also, I'm going to give a little shout-out to Darren Ward and Ian Willcock [goalkeeping coaches], because they say they don't like the shout-outs but they do, the goalkeeping union does. Thank you to all my coaches, on a serious level, at England and United.

"I'm blown away, I talk a lot about it's not been the easiest journey to get here. Some would say I definitely took the scenic route. I've had to wait a long time for this kind of success, but I think looking back now, it all makes total sense, everything that I went through. I mean, we're humans, we all have struggles, right?

"But it just made me feel so much more prepared for the challenges I face today, and to be able to enjoy these moments so much more and realise how pretty unbelievable they are and to never take a single day for granted. 

"If you're struggling and you're going through hell, keep going. It's never too late to be exactly who you are. I think 2023 showed us that when we come together and we speak out on injustices, we can change the world, so let's continue to do that. Thank you very much, everyone."

We're incredibly proud of you, Mary. Congratulations on this much-deserved success!