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She’s the 20-year-old global phenom who is set to be the face of Australian football for at least the next decade, and the enormity of the past 12 months is only just now starting to sink in for Mary Fowler as the Matildas star gets ready for a rare holiday over the Christmas break before things ramp up with a spot in the Olympics up for grabs.

Life has moved quickly for the attacking genius who is with international powerhouse Manchester City.

While she’s still able to walk down the streets in the UK without being recognised by most people, it’s a completely different story when she’s back home, with Fowler swamped by adoring fans at the Rise & Shine Kindergarten in Carlton in Sydney’s south.

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Fowler was recently announced as an ambassador and immediately dazzled the crowd on a wet and windy day in Sydney. She reflected on everything that’s happened this year, with the World Cup, international fame and appearing on the front cover of Marie Claire’s Woman of the Year magazine.

“When you start out, you don’t really think too much about these things,” she said.

“I never would have thought that I’d get the opportunities that I do now, but as I’ve got more opportunities being out in the spotlight a bit more, it’s made me realise the kind of responsibilities that you have to all these people that are watching you.

“I’ve always thought that the biggest way for me to inspire someone is for me being myself, so that’s what I do when I’m out there.

“I try to be genuine, and if that makes someone want to go after a dream or smile, then that would make me happy.”

The star striker made her way back to Australia after returning to the UK to play for Manchester City, arriving in Sydney on an Emirates flight from Dubai on Tuesday night.

Her arrival set tongues wagging as she was snapped getting picked up by Penrith Panthers captain Nathan Cleary, with the pair seen embracing and sharing a kiss.

It was feared the rumoured-couple would have to wait months to be reunited after it was announced last week that Fowler would no longer be appearing at a Matildas Open Air Live Event to be held on Thursday night.

Instead, the star player kept her travel plans to return to Sydney and despite pulling out of the Matildas event, kept her commitments to Rise & Shine Kindergarten.

Fowler was all smiles in the room full of kindergarteners but turned silent when questions turned to her personal life.

Reporters keen to ask questions about the budding romance were quickly shut down by Matildas media team at the event, with interviews ending as soon as Cleary was mentioned by the media.

Australians have been desperate to find out the details of Fowler and Cleary’s rumoured romance after they were spotted cosying up together at a Perth park last month.

The last time the pair were together was on November 2 when Cleary farewelled Fowler at Perth Airport after the Matildas’ 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei the night before.

Fowler and her Matildas teammates made all of Australia happy when the team reached the semi-finals at the home World Cup that was played in front of record crowds and watched by millions of people at home.

“It’s been an incredible year. It’s hard to put into words how big it’s been,” she said having emerged as one of Australia’s most important attacking weapons, especially with Sam Kerr out injured.

“I didn’t expect that (Australians to be so invested in women’s football).

“I think the majority of us went into the World Cup not expecting that, but that was amazing.

“I think that was the best part of the World Cup, to see how many people got behind us and how together Australia came.”

The noise around Accor Stadium when Kerr scored against England could have been heard in outer space, but the crowning moment for the Aussies came a few days earlier when they eliminated France in a pulsating penalty shootout.

There were endless twists and turns on that night, with Fowler coolly slotting a penalty that sizzled into the bottom corner and showed just how poised she is on the biggest stage.

“It’s funny because in the moment I just felt so sure that we were going to win,” she said.

“I felt very calm and very prepared, and it’s only when I watch it back that I feel stressed.

“In the moment, everyone had prepared so well and believed so when we did miss a couple of them (penalties), there was never any doubt that we’d pull through in the end.”

Trying to get tickets to Matildas games has been as difficult as trying to get to a Taylor Swift concert, and another massive crowd is expected to be there when they host Uzbekistan in February for a spot in next year’s Olympics.

Fowler played in the Tokyo Games that were delayed by the pandemic, and she wants another crack at a medal in Paris.

The teams will compete over two legs, with plenty of intrigue over whether Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson will be there given he’s been linked with the Swedish job.

“The job’s not done until it’s done,” Fowler said, not willing to talk about the coaching situation

“A lot of people just think about those games and think that it’ll be a walkover for us, but you can’t say that you’re at the Olympics until you actually qualify.

“We’ll be preparing for them and taking them seriously.”