Mohamed Salah Wins Historic Third PFA Player of the Year Award

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was named the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Player of the Year on Tuesday, becoming the first player to win the award three times.

Salah, who joined Liverpool in 2017, was the Premier League’s top scorer last season with 29 goals, along with 18 assists. His contributions played a key role in Liverpool winning the league title, finishing 10 points clear of runners-up Arsenal.

The 33-year-old also claimed the Premier League Player of the Season award, the Golden Boot, and the Playmaker award — becoming the first player to win all three in the same campaign.

Salah first won the PFA award in 2018 after his debut season at Anfield, then again in 2022. This year, he topped a six-man shortlist voted on by PFA members from the 92 Premier League and Football League teams. The shortlist also included his teammate Alexis Mac Allister, Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, Arsenal’s Declan Rice, and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.

In April, Salah signed a two-year contract extension with Liverpool, ending speculation about a potential move to the Saudi Pro League.

Elsewhere, Aston Villa and England midfielder Morgan Rogers was voted Young Player of the Year after scoring eight league goals in 37 starts last season, alongside four Champions League goals, including a hat-trick against Celtic.

Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey was named Women’s Player of the Year, having scored nine league goals and eight Champions League goals in her debut season, helping Arsenal defeat her former club Barcelona to lift the trophy.

Canadian forward Olivia Smith, Liverpool’s top scorer across all competitions with nine goals last season, collected the Women’s Young Player of the Year award. She has since joined Arsenal for a reported £1 million ($1.35m), becoming the first female footballer to break the seven-figure transfer barrier.

Liverpool dominated the Premier League Team of the Year, with four players included: Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister, and new signing Milos Kerkez.

Premier League Team of the Year:
Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest); Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth), William Saliba (Arsenal), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal); Declan Rice (Arsenal), Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool); Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Alexander Isak (Newcastle United), Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest).

Source: AL JAZEERA