Salah makes history with third PFA Player of the Year award
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has etched his name into football history by becoming the first player ever to win the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award three times. The Egyptian superstar received the prestigious honor on Tuesday, adding another milestone to his already remarkable career at Anfield.
The 33-year-old's latest triumph comes after an exceptional campaign where he spearheaded Liverpool's Premier League title victory. Salah finished as the league's leading marksman with 29 goals while also providing 18 assists, demonstrating his evolution into a complete attacking threat. His performances were instrumental in Liverpool securing the championship with a commanding 10-point margin over runners-up Arsenal.
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Salah's dominance extended beyond just the PFA award, as he became the first player in Premier League history to claim a remarkable treble of individual honors in a single season. He had previously secured the Premier League Player of the Season award, the Golden Boot for top scorer, and the Playmaker award for most assists, showcasing his unparalleled contribution to Liverpool's success.
This latest PFA recognition marks Salah's third time winning the award, having previously claimed the honor in 2018 during his debut season at Liverpool and again in 2022. The award is determined by votes from PFA members across all 92 Premier League and Football League teams, making it one of the most respected accolades in English football. Salah emerged victorious from a competitive six-man shortlist that featured his Liverpool teammate Alexis Mac Allister, Newcastle United's Alexander Isak, Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, Arsenal's Declan Rice, and Chelsea's Cole Palmer.
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The timing of this award comes after Salah ended months of transfer speculation by signing a two-year contract extension with Liverpool in April, turning down lucrative offers from the Saudi Pro League to remain at Anfield. Since joining Liverpool in 2017, the Egyptian has transformed into one of the Premier League's most lethal forwards and continues to break records at the highest level.
In other PFA award announcements, Aston Villa and England midfielder Morgan Rogers claimed the Young Player of the Year award following an impressive season that saw the 23-year-old score eight league goals across 37 starts and add four Champions League goals, including a memorable hat-trick against Celtic.
The women's game was also celebrated as Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentey took home the Women's Player of the Year award. The Spanish international enjoyed a stellar debut season at Arsenal, netting nine league goals and eight Champions League goals as the Gunners defeated her former club Barcelona to claim European glory.
Canadian forward Olivia Smith, who was Liverpool's top scorer across all competitions last season with nine goals, received the Young Player of the Year award in the women's category. The 21-year-old has since made a groundbreaking move to Arsenal for a reported fee of one million pounds, becoming the first female player to command a seven-figure transfer fee.
Liverpool's exceptional season was further recognized with four players from last season's squad earning places in the Premier League Team of the Year alongside new signing Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth. The Liverpool contingent includes Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, and Alexis Mac Allister, highlighting the collective strength that drove their title triumph.
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