AFC award winner Ellie Carpenter in action during Australia's 2-1 defeat of Germany in Duisburg. -EPA
Australia's Ellie Carpenter has made history by becoming  the inaugural recipient of the Asian Football Confederation's Asian international player of the year (women) accolade.
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The Cowra-born defender, who helped Australia beat Germany 2-1 in Duisburg earlier this week, edged fellow nominee Yui Hasegawa, of Japan, to the top prize at the awards ceremony in Seoul.
The AFC said the award was presented for the first time in recognition of the growth of women's football and the success of the continent's top players.
Cortnee Vine, the former Sydney winger who now plays for North Carolina Courage, missed out narrowly on succeeding fellow Matilda Sam Kerr as the AFC's women's player of the year.
That award went to Japan's Kiko Seike. The other nominee was Kim Hye-ri of South Korea.
Qatar's Akram Afif was named the men's player of the year for a second time. Son Heung-min, who plays for Ange Postcoglou at Tottenham Hotspur, Â was named men's international player of the year .
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