Agency :
Netherlands and Arsenal striker Vivianne Miedema has been named BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2021.
Miedema, who came second behind England defender Lucy Bronze for the 2020 award, is both the Netherlands and Women’s Super League all-time leading goalscorer.
The 25-year-old also broke the record for most goals scored at a single Olympic Games at Tokyo 2020.
“It’s a bit unexpected to be honest,” Miedema told BBC Sport.
“It’s pretty cool to win something like this, and with the fans voting it’s extra special.”
Australia and Chelsea forward Sam Kerr came second and Spain and Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas third.
The other nominees on the five-player shortlist for the BBC World Service award were Canada and Paris St-Germain defender Ashley Lawrence and Norway and Barcelona winger Caroline Graham Hansen.
Miedema’s 2020-21 season saw her make history with the Netherlands at Tokyo 2020 as she scored the most goals at a single Olympics in the women’s event. Although the Netherlands lost to the USA in the quarter-finals, Miedema’s 10 goals in four matches was a new record.
With Arsenal – for whom she has scored more than 100 goals in all competitions – she cemented her place in Women’s Super League history when she broke Nikita Parris’ all-time goalscoring record in October 2020, as well as helping the Gunners to Champions League qualification.
