Earps makes history at Ballon d'Or awards
Manchester United Women's Mary Earps finished fifth in the voting for the 2023 Ballon d’Or Feminin award - the highest ever ranking for a goalkeeper.
The prestigious annual awards ceremony took place on Monday evening in Paris, where Earps' final position in the voting was further recognition for her stellar 2022/23 season with United and England.
Mary registered a record number of clean sheets in the Women’s Super League and claimed the competition’s Golden Glove award, before going on to win the equivalent prize at the World Cup, where she helped the Lionesses to reach the final.
Earps' top-five ranking in the Ballon d'Or Feminin follows her global success earlier this year, when she received FIFA’s The Best Women’s Goalkeeper award for 2022.
Mary was not United’s only representative on the 30-player shortlist for France Football’s coveted award, with summer signing Hinata Miyazawa finishing 12th.
The midfielder has made a promising start to life in Manchester, although it was her efforts for former club Mynavi Sendai and her national team Japan that were taken into consideration.
‘Hini’ starred in her country’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals in Australia and New Zealand and claimed the adidas Golden Boot award as the tournament's top scorer with five goals.
Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati – who lifted both the Champions League and the World Cup in 2023 – was the overall Ballon d’Or Feminin winner on the night, while her club team-mate and compatriot Salma Paralluelo came third in the final standings.
Chelsea and Australia forward Sam Kerr finished as the runner-up.
Individual performances, team success and player behaviour were all factors towards the votes submitted by journalists for the accolade.