Beth Mead of Yorkshire finishes runner-up in Ballon d'Or vote for World Footballer of the Year
England forward Mead finished second to Putellas who wins the women’s Ballon d’Or for the second successive year.
Putellas suffered a knee injury ahead of the start of Euro 2022, where Arsenal striker Mead went on to be top scorer and was named player of the tournament as the Lionesses soared to victory on home soil when they beat Germany in the final at Wembley.
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Hide AdThe 27-year-old Mead was born near Whitby and began her footballing journey with local team California Girls before joining Middlesbrough’s centre of excellence.
She joined Sunderland in 2011 and moved to Arsenal in 2017, winning the first of 47 England caps the following year.
Chelsea and England defender Millie Bright, who is from Sheffield, finished 15th in the voting.
Mead’s second place finish completes a remarkable accomplishment for coastal North Yorkshire, which earlier this year saw Scarborough-born Zoe Aldcroft named World Rugby’s women’s 15s player of the year.
It means that part of the White Rose county is home to the best women’s rugby union player in the world and the second best women’s footballer, following Mead’s achievement.