Mohamed Salah has once again etched his name into footballing history, becoming only the second player ever to win the prestigious Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year award three times.
The Liverpool forward’s extraordinary 2024/25 season—marked by a league-leading 28 goals and 18 assists—has powered his side to their 20th English top-flight title. With three games still to play, Salah has already broken the record for most direct goal involvements in a single Premier League campaign, surpassing marks set by Erling Haaland and Thierry Henry.
This latest honour sees the 32-year-old Egyptian match Henry’s record of three FWA Footballer of the Year titles, having previously won in 2017/18 and 2021/22. Henry had claimed the award in 2003, 2004, and 2006.
Since the award’s inception in 1948—when Stanley Matthews was its first recipient—only a select group of legends have won it more than once. Salah now joins an elite list:
| Player | Wins (Years) |
|---|---|
| Thierry Henry | 3 (2002/03, 2003/04, 2005/06) |
| Mohamed Salah | 3 (2017/18, 2021/22, 2024/25) |
| Stanley Matthews | 2 (1947/48, 1962/63) |
| Tom Finney | 2 (1953/54, 1956/57) |
| Danny Blanchflower | 2 (1957/58, 1960/61) |
| Kenny Dalglish | 2 (1978/79, 1982/83) |
| John Barnes | 2 (1987/88, 1989/90) |
| Gary Lineker | 2 (1985/86, 1991/92) |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 2 (2006/07, 2007/08) |
Salah’s dominance this year was overwhelming. According to the FWA, he received 90% of the votes—the largest winning margin of the 21st century. Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk finished a distant second.
“Rarely has there been a more popular winner than Mo,” FWA chair John Cross noted. “His overwhelming victory reflects an incredible season. He continues to re-write the record books and has been instrumental in Liverpool’s success. It’s been a joy to watch him this year.”
Salah is expected to be honoured at the FWA’s annual gala dinner later this month.