Sam Kerr crowned AFC Women's Player of the Year

Westfield Matildas star Sam Kerr has capped her stunning rise by being named the Asian Football Confederation's Women's Player of the Year for 2017.

Kerr received the honour at the AFC Annual Awards in Bangkok on Wednesday night.

The 24-year-old beat out Japan international Saki Kumagai and emerging DPR Korea teenager Sung Hyang Sim to claim Asia's top individual prize.

She becomes the third Australian to win the award in the space of four years - following Katrina Gorry in 2014 and Caitlin Foord in 2016 - and fourth overall.

"It's been a  bit of a crazy year but I just want to say thank you to every one of my support staff for their help this year, they know who they are, and most importantly to my teammates because without them none of this would have been possible," Kerr said on receiving the award.

Kerr's latest recognition adds to an incredible list of achievements this year, including the Julie Dolan Medal for the Westfield W-League's 2016/17 season, the PFA Women's Footballer of the Year award, and the NWSL's Most Valuable Player award.

The electrifying forward has also been at the forefront of the Westfield Matildas' surge to sixth in the FIFA world rankings, scoring 11 goals in her last six appearances at international level and capturing headlines worldwide.