LONDON – Liverpool’s star player Mohamed Salah has been named England’s “Footballer of the Year” by soccer journalists for the third time, equaling a record. Additionally, Arsenal’s forward Alessia Russo was awarded the honor on the women’s side.
Salah first earned this prestigious award, distributed by the Football Writers’ Association (FWA), in 2018 and again in 2022. The only other player to match this achievement is the legendary Arsenal striker Thierry Henry. The FWA’s award holds the distinction of being the oldest individual soccer honor globally, with its inaugural presentation dating back to 1948.
This year, Salah secured a remarkable 90% of votes from over 900 members of the FWA, marking it as the largest victory margin of the century. Trailing him were teammate Virgil van Dijk in second place and Newcastle’s Alexander Isak in third. Salah currently leads the Premier League with 28 goals and 18 assists, significantly contributing to Liverpool clinching the championship twice in five years.
In the women’s category, Russo surpassed Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw and Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey. According to FWA chair John Cross, Russo’s standout performances in the Women’s Champions League played a crucial role in securing her victory. Arsenal, ranked second in the Women’s Super League, has advanced to the Champions League final after a decisive win over eight-time champions Lyon in the semifinals. They are set to face Barcelona for the title.