Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has made history at the PFA Awards 2025 by becoming the first player ever to win the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) men’s Player of the Year award three times.
Mohamed Salah makes PFA Awards 2025 history
The award ceremony took place on Monday evening at 20:00 UK time (21:00 SAST).
The PFA awards are voted for by professional football players in England. This means players choose who they believe performed best during the season. Salah, aged 33, was recognised after leading Liverpool to the Premier League title and finishing as the league’s top scorer with 29 goals and 18 assists in the 2024/25 season.
When reflecting on his journey, Salah said growing up in Egypt, he dreamed of being a footballer but never imagined winning awards of this scale.
“Of course I wanted to be a football player and I wanted to be famous and provide for my family, but you don’t think about the big stuff when you are still in Egypt. When you grow, you start to see things differently and you start to have ambition and you start to see the bigger picture,” he said.
In the women’s category, Arsenal forward Mariona Caldentey won the top award. The Spanish international was honoured for her outstanding season in the Women’s Super League, where she helped her team compete strongly in both domestic and European competitions.
This is the first time Caldentey has won the award, and it marks another achievement in her growing career after leaving Barcelona in 2024 to join Arsenal.
Young players recognised at the PFA Awards 2025
The PFA Awards 2025 also celebrated young players who had breakthrough seasons.
Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers was named Young Player of the Year. Rogers, 23, joined Villa from Middlesbrough in February 2024 for around £15 million and quickly became a key part of Unai Emery’s side.
He played 54 matches across all competitions, scoring 14 goals, and also made his debut for the England senior national team. Rogers said being recognised alongside legends of the game motivated him:
“Later down the line, I want to be one of those incredible players people speak about, so to do that I have to do what they did and follow the same path,” he told BBC Sport.
Former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate received the PFA Merit Award. This award is given to people who have made a major contribution to football.
Southgate was recognised for his leadership of the England men’s national team, where he guided the side to consistent performances at international tournaments.
Team of the year dominated by Liverpool and Arsenal
The PFA Premier League Team of the Year, chosen by the players themselves, was dominated by Liverpool and Arsenal stars.
- Goalkeeper: Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest)
- Defenders: William Saliba (Arsenal), Gabriel (Arsenal), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth, now Liverpool)
- Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Declan Rice (Arsenal)
- Forwards: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Alexander Isak (Newcastle), Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)
Other league winners
- Championship Player of the Year: James Trafford (Burnley, now Manchester City)
- League One Player of the Year: Richard Kone (Wycombe, now Queens Park Rangers)
- League Two Player of the Year: Michael Cheek (Bromley)