Mead, the best player and co-top scorer in the European Championship won by England at home, is the favorite to succeed Putellas, whose season ended in a tailspin with a serious knee injury which deprived the Catalan of the Euro.
With her six goals (like the German Alexandra Popp) and her four assists, the Arsenal striker was the spearhead of the English attack, particularly in view during the tournament.
In the Euro final, Mead (27) and the "Lionesses" dominated Lena Oberdorf's Germany (2-1 ap), obtaining the first women's trophy in the history of English football.
At 20, Oberdorf (Wolfsburg) was named the tournament's best hope, receiving her trophy in tears.
As for Putellas, she can boast of having reached a second consecutive final in the Women's Champions League with FC Barcelona, finishing as the competition's top scorer (11 goals).
But the Catalan club, crowned in 2021, this time lost against Olympique Lyonnais (3-1), eight-time winner of the trophy.
Lyon coach Sonia Bompastor is among the finalists for the award for best coach of the season, alongside Dutch Sarina Wiegman, England coach, and Germany's Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, who leads the Mannschaft.
The winners of the best player, best player and best manager of the season awards will be announced on August 25 on the sidelines of the men's Champions League group stage draw in Istanbul (6:00 p.m.).
In 2021, the Italian Jorginho (Chelsea) and the Spaniard Putellas (Barcelona) were honored.
Both prizes are awarded by a jury made up of coaches and journalists from European media, including AFP.
© 2022 AFP