Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw wants to “stay true to who she is” and inspire young black girls to play football.

The 27-year-old is a role model in her home country, Jamaica, after impressing on the international stage and taking the Women’s Super League by storm following her move to City in 2021.

She was last season’s top scorer in the WSL as Gareth Taylor’s side finished runners-up to champions Chelsea on goal difference.

Her performances in the 2023-24 season also led to her being named the PFA Women’s Players’ Player of the year and the FWA Women’s Footballer of the Year.

“When I look back at my childhood, I didn’t really have a lot of people I could look to – apart from Usain Bolt of course,” Shaw, who debuted for Jamaica in 2015, told BBC Sport.

“I didn’t have a lot of people who I could look to and say ‘I want to be like that.’ One of the main reasons was that I wasn’t really allowed to play.

“Now, looking at where the game is and where it is going, I think there is more room for that.

“For me, it’s just being alive and being in the moment. It’s staying true to who I am. Hopefully by doing that each and every day, it works out in the end.”

Black History Month, celebrated from 1-31 October, continues to shine a spotlight on athletes who have broken barriers to achieve success.

Shaw, who is nominated for this year’s Ballon d’Or award, says she feels the responsibility of being a role model but hopes more will follow in her footsteps, particularly in Jamaica.

“I just try to be the best I can be and hope that by doing that, there are others looking on [who can] see that if I can do it, then it’s possible,” she added.

“Hopefully I can inspire a lot of the young girls back home in Jamaica that it is definitely possible.

“It’s been a long journey for me. I had to travel around the world to get here. Now I am here, I’m just embracing the moment and loving every part of it.

“The ups and downs are parts of life and that’s how you grow as a person. But I just try to be the best that I can and hopefully inspire more girls.”