Football news 2024: Fan favourite crowned the PFA’s best young footballer of the year, as star snubbed

An Aussie fan favourite has joined an exclusive club as a second time winner of the FPA’s best young footballer award, while one of the nation’s fastest rising talents was snubbed by their peers.

Matildas rising star Mary Fowler is back in the spotlight being named the best young footballer of the year – while Socceroos wonderkid Nestory Irankuda missed out.

The Australian PFA Young Footballers of the Year award winners are voted for by their peers.

Fowler won the women’s category and New Zealand goalkeeper Alex Paulsen took out the men’s award.

The award takes in the performances of professionals playing in the A-League's as well as Australians playing overseas between June 2023 and June 2024 -who are aged under 23.

It is the second time Fowler has won the award, her first back in 2022.

It caps an incredible 12 months since the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup where Fowler became a household name.

In the past year she has grown from benchwarmer at English WSL club Manchester City to key starting player.

Mary Fowler has become a key starting player for Manchester City. Picture: Getty Images

She was also nominated for the Best FIFA Women’s Player award.

It comes in the same week as Fowler’s partner Nathan Cleary is primed to take his fourth consecutive NRL championship with the Panthers.

Fowler is one of just three players to have won the women’s award twice – with fellow Matildas teammates Alex Chidiac and Ellie Carpenter the other two. She beat Kyra Cooney-Cross, Kaitlyn Torpey and Charli Grant to the prize.

“It means a lot to me,” Fowler said.

“I think it’s one of the best awards I can receive because getting something from the players I play alongside, and play against, it means a lot to me to see that they think I’m doing well and give me that kind of recognition. I just feel super grateful for that.”

Mary Fowler has had a quick rise to stardom with the Matildas. Picture: Getty Images

Paulsen is just the third New Zealand national to win the award.

He had a breakout season in the A-League’s with Wellington Phoenix. It isn’t Paulsen’s only accolade of the season – he was also shared the A-League Men’s Young Footballer of the Year award with Irankuda.

Paulsen’s incredible on field performances earned him a contract with English Premier League side Bournemouth – he has been loaned to new A-League men’s side Auckland FC for the upcoming season.

Alex Paulsen earned a contract in the EPL with Bournemouth. Picture: Getty Images

“I’m proud to receive such a prestigious award,” Paulsen said.

“Only two Kiwis have

won this award (previously) so to be up in that bracket is amazing and I’m really

proud of receiving such an accolade.

“It means more to be voted by my peers and my teammates. I feel very honoured to

receive this award.

“Twelve months ago, I wasn’t really – with regards to Wellington Phoenix – in the picture to be considered the No. 1, and to be given an opportunity by ‘Chiefy’ (Italiano) to be involved with the Wellington Phoenix and to be the No. 1 was fantastic.”

The A-League's’ men’s season will kick off on October 18 and the women’s on November 1.

Originally published as Football news 2024: Fan favourite crowned the PFA’s best young footballer of the year, as star snubbed