Mackenzie Arnold has been announced as one of the three finalists for The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper Award 2023.
Arnold has been nominated alongside Manchester United and England’s Mary Earps and Barcelona and Spain’s Cata Coll, who both started in goal in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final.
From this shortlist, the three finalists have been selected by an international jury comprising women’s national team coaches, women’s national team captains, football journalists, and fans who voted on FIFA’s website.
Arnold was named to the seven-player shortlist back in September, marking her first nomination for the award.
The West Ham United No1 has enjoyed an outstanding last 12 months, starring in east London as she picked up the Club's Players’ Player of the Season award for 2022/23, and earning a starting spot between the posts for Australia ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on home soil.
Arnold then produced heroics in the tournament, earning four clean sheets, the highest at the competition, as she helped Australia to a fourth-place finish, the team's best-ever placing at a FIFA Women's World Cup.
The highlight for the 29-year-old was undoubtedly her performance in the quarter-final, where she saved three penalties against France, which included a retaken spot-kick – earning her worldwide plaudits – as the Matildas prevailed in a shootout.
Arnold then returned to east London ahead of the 2023/24 season and was given the captain's armband for the current campaign.
The winner of the award will be revealed at the FIFA Best Awards ceremony in London on 15 January 2024.
