Liverpool and Egypt winger Salah wins The Footballer of the Year for the third time, equalling record held by Thierry Henry. Arsenal and England striker Russo wins Women’s Footballer of the Year for the first time.
Mohammed Salah has completed a triumphant season by winning The Footballer of the Year award for the third time, having collected it previously in 2018 and 2022. The Egyptian joins Thierry Henry as the only player to have won football’s oldest and most prestigious individual award three times, and this year he won by an overwhelming majority. He won 90 per cent of votes cast by the FWA’s over 900 members, the biggest winning margin this century.
The top four was:
Mohammed Salah
Virgil Van Dijk
Alexander Isak
Declan Rice
15 other players received votes
FWA chair John Cross said: “Rarely has there been a more popular winner than Mo. His overwhelming victory is just a reflection of an incredible season. He continues to re-write the record books and his performances this season have obviously been key to Liverpool’s 20th title. It’s been a privilege watching him this season and it will be a privilege to welcome him to our dinner to celebrate his success.”
Alessia Russo becomes the second Arsenal player to win the Women’s Footballer of the Year award, after Vivianne Miedema in 2020. She beat last year’s winnner Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw of Manchester City with her current Arsenal team-mate Mariona Caldentey coming third. Chelsea’s Millie Bright was fourth, and the fact that 39 different players received votes shows the growing interest in women’s football.
The top four was:
Alessia Russo
Khadija Shaw
Mariona Caldentey
Millie Bright
FWA chair John Cross said: “Alessia’s performances, especially in the Champions League have been the stand-out from the season. She seems to have taken a huge leap since joining Arsenal and her overall game as well as her goals make her a special player. We’re delighted to be crowning her Women’s Footballer of the Year but hope that it’s not the last honour she receives this season with the Champions League Final at the end of the month.”
Our congratulations to the winners, who will receive their trophies at the Footballer of the Year dinner on Thursday May 22 at the Landmark London.
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