He will be just the seventh player to be granted the accolade.

Australian players - through Professional Footballers Australia – chose Kewell to receive the award.

Kewell joins Johnny Warren and Joe Marston, Craig Johnston (2009), Mark Viduka (2011), Frank Farina (2012) and Mark Schwarzer (2014) as Tobin Medallists.

The 38-year-old said he was honoured to be recognised for his contributions to football both here and abroad.

"When you get voted by your peers it's something special because they're recognising what you've done in the game," he said.

"To be up there with the likes of Johnny Warren, Craig Johnston, Schwarzer and Mark Viduka - these are the icons of Australia that all the young kids look up to.

"It's one that I'm very proud of."

PFA president and Sydney FC defender Alex Wilkinson said Kewell had earned the right to be held among Australian footballing greats.

"The image of Harry scoring against Croatia to send the Socceroos into the knockout stages of the 2006 World Cup is one of game's most iconic and this along with countless others will live long in the memories of all football fans," he said.

"Harry's achievements for club and country inspired the nation's young footballers and showed that no limits should be placed on what Australian footballers can achieve if they work tirelessly and commit wholeheartedly to the game."

Kewell was an English Premier League stalwart and starred for Leeds United and Liverpool over a 13-season career.

He played at two World Cups with Australia and was a part of the Socceroos side which reached the final of the 2011 Asian Cup, losing to Japan.

Kewell retired in 2014 and now heads English Premier League side Watford's development squad.