2022 BBC Women's Footballer of the Year nominations announced
By Ali Rampling
Sam Kerr, Beth Mead, Alexandra Popp, Alexia Putellas and Wendie Renard have been nominated for the 2022 BBC Women's Footballer of the Year award.
The shortlist was compiled by coaches, players and journalists, with the winner to be announced on 9 November. Arsenal's Vivianne Miedema is the current holder of the award.
The winner is decided by public vote, which closes on 12 October.
Kerr won the WSL golden boot for a second successive season, netting 20 goals in 20 league appearances - including two stunning solo efforts on the final day of the campaign.
The striker was also the top scorer at the 2022 Women's Asian Cup, and surpassed Tim Cahill as Australia's all-time top goal scorer.
Meanwhile, Mead enjoyed a stunningly prolific season for club and country, providing 11 goals and eight assists in the WSL for Arsenal, and 13 goals and 12 assists in just 10 World Cup qualifying outings for England.
The forward then rose to international acclaim at Euro 2022, netting six goals to scoop both the golden boot and player of the tournament award.
Popp endured an injury plagued 2021/22 campaign, but recovered to take Euro 2022 by storm.
She finished as the joint top scorer with six goals - including a crucial brace in the semi finals - before heartbreakingly missing out on the final due to injury.
Putellas captained Barcelona to a perfect league campaign as they were crowned champions of Spain once more by winning every game to enjoy another year of domestic dominance.
The attacking midfielder also completed the most prolific season of her career during the 2021/22 campaign, netting 34 goals. However, she agonisingly missed out on playing at Euro 2022 after rupturing her ACL on the eve of the tournament.
Renard captained Lyon to the French and European titles that they had lost during the 2020/21 campaign, turning in a colossal performance in the Champions League final against Barcelona.
In April, she became the first player to make a century of Women's Champions League appearances, and was a pivotal part of the France side that reached a women's major tournament semi final for the very first time at Euro 2022.