09-05-2025
Mohamed Salah named FWA Footballer of the Year with staggering number of votes
Mohamed Salah has become just the second player to be named the FWA Footballer of the Year three times, after firing Liverpool to their second Premier League title in five years
Mo Salah has been crowned the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year. Incredibly, Liverpool striker Salah won by the biggest margin THIS CENTURY, landing nearly 90 per cent of the votes cast.
Salah, 32, is also only the SECOND player to win the award three times, matching Arsenal legend Thierry Henry. Arsenal striker Alessia Russo has also been crowned the Women's Footballer of the Year in a tighter race but she was a clear winner in the end.
Salah, 32, has played a huge part in Liverpool's Premier League title-winning campaign and has enjoyed another unforgettable individual season. The Egyptian king, who has just signed a new contract to stay at Liverpool for at least another two years, has scored 33 goals across all competitions which includes 28 in the Premier League.
Salah has written his name into folklore at Anfield and also as one of the all-time greats of the Premier League era. His Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk was his closest challenger as the majestic Dutch defender finished second in the voting.
Again, van Dijk has played a key role in Liverpool's title success to help Arne Slot join a select band of managers to win the Premier League in their first season in English football.
Newcastle striker Alexander Isak was third and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice fourth in the voting. Isak helped Newcastle win their first trophy in 56 years by lifting the Carabao Cup.
Rice was instrumental in Arsenal's Champions League campaign, his two free kicks against Real Madrid at the Emirates will live long in the memory. Outside the top four places, 15 other players received votes with 918 members eligible to vote.
The race for the women's award was much closer and, remarkably, 36 players received a vote which reflects the growth and interest in the game generally.
But Russo was a clear and deserved winner as she has played a huge role in Arsenal reaching the Champions League final later this month.
Her performances in memorable games swung the vote in her favour. Arsenal overcame the odds and first leg defeats to beat Real Madrid and Lyon to reach the final in Lisbon on May 25.
Last year's winner Khadija Shaw, the Manchester City striker, was runner-up while Mariona Caldentey and Millie Bright were third and fourth respectively.
Russo becomes the second Arsenal player to win the award after Vivianne Miedema in 2020. Both players are due to attend the Football Writers' Association dinner on Thursday May 22 to collect their awards.
