The 27-year-old, who becomes the first women's footballer to win the award, scored six goals as the Lionesses charged to their first major trophy this summer, beating Germany 2-1 at Wembley in extra-time to win Euro 2022. She was also chosen as UEFA's player of the tournament.

She has also been in fine form for Arsenal, completing a stunning turnaround for the winger after she was left out of the Team GB squad for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

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However, she ruptured her ACL during Arsenal's WSL defeat to Manchester United three weeks ago and now faces a race to be fit for next year's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Mead, who recently signed a new contract with the Gunners, won the BBC public poll ahead of England Test cricket captain Ben Stokes, who was second, and Olympic curling champion Eve Muirhead, who came third.

The other nominees on the six-person shortlist were gymnast Jessica Gadirova, 1,500-metre world champion Jake Wightman and seven-time world snooker champion Ronnie O'Sullivan.

An emotional Mead said: "I'm incredibly honoured to win this award.

"I wouldn't have done it without those girls over there and the team that have backed me. Yes, I've got this accolade, I did my job, I scored a few goals but I wouldn't have done it without them.

"And I certainly wouldn't have done it without my mum, my dad and all my family.

"But most of all, this is for women's sport, and for women's sport heading in the right direction. So let's keep pushing girls and let's keep doing the right thing."

Gunners manager Jonas Eidevall tweeted his congratulations to their star winger after their 9-1 win at FC Zurich in the Women's Champions League on Wednesday night.

He wrote: "To succeed in a team sport requires a lot. Not only do you need to be individually good but you also need for others to want you to be successful. I'm proud of you [Beth]! Well done!"

Eidevall also said winning Sports Personality was a reflection of Mead's quality.

"She has had an extraordinary year under difficult circumstances that we are all aware of," he added. "Like I said in the autumn of 2021, Beth Mead is this good.

"It becomes so clear when you see her in training every day.

"That is why I am confident she will be able to return in a very strong condition again because she is that good a football player.

"I'm very happy for her to be able to show that and she has been able to show that in a way that she is as a person. How positive and caring she is and i think that is inspirational for people."

Mead's success makes her the 13th individual female winner of the award, with Jayne Torvill also claiming it as part of her ice dance partnership with Christopher Dean in 1984. She is also only the sixth footballer to win the award in its 68-year history.

Her victory completed a hat-trick of awards for the Lionesses on the night, as the squad were voted Team of the Year for their Euros triumph, with Sarina Wiegman collecting the Coach of the Year award.

Wiegman only began her stint in charge of the England team in September 2021, having led her home country the Netherlands to the same title in 2017.

Lionesses midfielder Jill Scott, who announced her retirement from football shortly after the tournament and went on to win I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here earlier this month, said: "The thought that this Christmas there will be little girls asking for a pair of football boots and embarking on their own journey, and it'll be classed as normal, that'll make us the happiest."

Analysis: Mead's sensational rise capped with SPOTY award

Sky Sports' Charlotte Marsh:

"If you asked Mead a year ago what her predictions for 2022 would be, she may have struggled to name even half of the incredible moments she has experienced over the last 12 months.

"The year 2021 will arguably be remembered for her Olympic disappointment. But 2022 has often been dubbed the 'Beth Mead revenge tour' - and the music has finally reached its crescendo with a well-deserved BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

"Winning the Euros in July will always be the pinnacle of the year. A first major title for the Lionesses, the first major trophy won by a senior England side since 1966 and won in front of a sold-out Wembley against the old enemy in Germany. Football fairytales don't come much better.

"Mead was one of the Lionesses' breakout stars. Her six goals and five assists saw her ease to the Golden Boot, scoring half of England's goals at the tournament, as well as being named Player of the Tournament. She went on to earn her 50th England cap in November and at the age of 27, can easily reach her century.

"It has been a mix of both Jonas Eidevall and Sarina Wiegman's management that has finally seen Mead realise her potential. She has been directly involved in 37 goals in 23 appearances under the Dutch manager, and she has been just as effective for Arsenal.

"She has scored 10 goals and registered eight assists in WSL games in 2022, racking up 61 shots while also making 35 tackles, showing just how effective she can be in other areas of her game.

"Unfortunately, it will be a little while yet before we see Mead light up the pitch once again. An ACL injury picked up a few weeks ago has certainly ruled her out for much of the season, making it touch and go for the World Cup next summer.

"But there's no denying that the most recent award in her trophy cabinet is the perfect way to cap a sensational rise with no doubts that Mead will come back even stronger in 2023."