Just the fourth sportswoman to pick up the honour, the 24-year-old follows in the footsteps of Deahnne McIntyre, Cathy Freeman and Jacqueline Freney.

It is yet another accolade in the meteoric rise of the lethal striker.

In the past 12 months she was named MVP and claimed the Golden Boot in the American National Women’s Soccer League, took out the AFC Women’s Player of the Year award and the W-League Julie Dolan Medal and was included in the Best FIFA Women’s Player Top10.

In the official write up,Kerr was described as:"An engaging ambassador for all women's sport...Her love for the game and her country is infectious. While she celebrates her prolific goal-scoring ability with a trademark backflip, Sam is a well-grounded athlete who inspires young and old with her athletic prowess and sportsmanship. Sam’s star power packs out arenas around the world, and encourages young women everywhere to chase their dreams. "