Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been voted the 2024/25 Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year, with Arsenal striker Alessia Russo winning the women’s award.
Salah won by the biggest margin this century, landing almost 90 per cent of all votes cast.
He has scored 28 goals and provided 18 assists this season to help Liverpool win the Premier League, and is on course to be the division’s top scorer this campaign.
The Egypt forward has claimed the FWA Footballer of the Year for a record-equalling third time after wins in 2017/18 and 2021/22.
It moves the 32-year-old level with ex-Arsenal striker Thierry Henry’s three FWA awards (2002/2003, 2003/2004 and 2005/2006).
FWA Footballer of the Year top four
- 1. Mohamed Salah
- 2. Virgil van Dijk
- 3. Alexander Isak
- 4. Declan Rice
Russo becomes the second Arsenal player to win the award after Vivianne Miedema in 2020. The vast interest in the women’s game among FWA members was reflected by the fact that 36 different players received votes
The England international has excelled in her second season at Arsenal, especially under new manager Renee Slegers.
FWA Women’s Footballer of the Year top four
- 1. Alessia Russo
- 2. Khadija Shaw
- 3. Mariona Caldentey
- 4. Millie Bright
She has scored 12 goals in 20 WSL games, and is on course to win the Golden Boot alongside Man City’s Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw.
She could claim the award outright in the Gunners’ final WSL game of the season as they go head-to-head with Russo’s former side, Man Utd, for second place in the table
Russo has never won the FWA award before, but claimed the double prize of WSL Player of the Month and Goal of the Month in December. The forward will also play in her first Champions League final later this month, having scored seven goals in the competition so far this season.