• Mary Earps has been named The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper for a second time

• England goalkeeper used her speech to reassure and encourage people "going through hell"

• She explained to FIFA why that message is rooted in personal experience

Recently, Mary Earps’ hands have been as busy lifting awards as they have been saving shots and claiming crosses.

In the past year, the Manchester United star has been named England Women's Player of the Year, become a FIFA Women's World Cup™ and WSL Golden Glove winner, been crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year and, of course, won The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper award... twice!

“It’s been”, the Lionesses keeper told FIFA.com with a smile, “a bit ridiculous really”.

This sense of delight and wonder is heightened by the fact that, as Earps alluded to in her winner’s speech, it hasn’t always been this way. Flash back to September 2020, and there was an England squad announced with four goalkeepers – none of which were her.

Having been in international exile for some time already, she read the news on social media, sunk to her kitchen floor and wept. Earps had, she decided, “reached her limits”. “I had given football a good go, but wasn't quite good enough,” was the now-remarkable conclusion reached. “I had responsibilities, I had a mortgage and it wasn't adding up.”

Now, of course, that keeper who “wasn’t quite good enough” is a national heroine and a history-maker in her position. By retaining her title as The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper in London on 15 January, she became the award’s first-ever two-time winner.

There was extra weight, therefore, to those words in her speech: “If you’re struggling and going through hell, keep going!”

“It's not something I want to harp on about,” she said after collecting her award. “I’ve just had so many people approach me to say how amazing it is that I spoke up about it and that they are sharing the same struggles, and I think it's really important to be honest.

“It's very easy to pretend like our lives are just these unbelievable shiny things, all sunshine and rainbows, and that's just not realistic.”

As impressive as her speech was, Earps used her interview with FIFA to issue a heartfelt apology for forgetting to thank family and friends: “I feel like an idiot. I just can’t do this standing up in front of people!”

Addressing a packed Hammersmith Apollo has, she said, been infinitely more nerve-wracking than the penalty she faced – and, typically, saved – in the Women’s World Cup final. "Oh, definitely," she responded instantly. "For a penalty, I’m geared up and in the zone. This just feels totally out of my comfort zone."

All these awards are, at least, affording the Manchester United star extra practice in the art of public speaking. Yet it was notable and endearing that, as she made history as the first player to win this honour more than once, Earps herself remained completely unaware.

“No? You’re joking! That is absolutely unbelievable and I’m truly, truly privileged,” was her response to discovering the news. “If anything, it just feels even more special [to win it for a second time].

"To maintain a level of success and consistency is one of the hardest things you can do in football. People always say getting to the top is hard, but staying there is so much harder. And I'm honestly so, so grateful.”