Salah’s Hat Trick of PFA Awards Adds Weight to Ballon d’Or Push
The Professional Footballer’s Association, or PFA, crowned Mohamed Salah as the Players’ Player of the Year for a historic third time last night. Salah continues to impress in the Premier League as the first and only player to win the award three times. He also featured in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year alongside teammates Alexis Mac Allister, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, and Milos Kerkez. The winger’s honors further strengthen his case to win the Ballon d’Or in late September.
Salah’s PFA trophy caps off a spectacular season on Merseyside. Each time Salah stepped onto the pitch, he rewrote history and ascended into various goal-scoring rankings. The Egyptian netted 29 goals and provided 18 assists, for a combined total of 47 goal contributions across 38 games. His involvement set a new record for the most goals and assists in a 38-game season. Salah was vital to Liverpool's 20th Premier League title.
With the Ballon d’Or a month away, Salah is in fine form to shake up the standings and stamp himself as an under-the-radar candidate to win. When the Ballon d’Or committee announced the nominees, the football world immediately pegged it to be a two-horse race between Barcelona’s Raphinha and PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé. Many gave their verdicts, with Salah finishing in third or fourth place. Yet, the Egyptian’s achievements cannot be overlooked.
His performances garnered the Premier League Player of the Season Award along with a fourth Golden Boot and the Playmaker Award. Salah’s brilliance leaves him as the only Premier League player to take home those three trophies in the same campaign. His trophy cabinet needed to make more space for another accolade. The winger captured the FWA Footballer of the Year too, receiving nearly every possible distinction in a single season.
What’s even more impressive is how he won his honors. Salah’s 47 goal contributions leave a staggering gap between himself and the next closest player. Alexander Isak had close to 30 tallies. Salah’s figures almost guaranteed him a goal or an assist per match. He began the 2024-2025 Premier League season as the 11th-highest scorer, but leaped six spots to cement himself as the fifth-highest scorer. As the Ballon d’Or accounts for sustained success through trophies and statistics, Salah’s record-shattering campaign proceeds to prove why he is more than deserving to complete his resume.
The only problem Salah faces is that both Raphinha and Dembélè had more success on bigger stages. After the never-ending honor list Salah had, it seems impossible that someone can possess more. Raphinha and Dembélè had a far better showing in the Champions League. The duo made it to the semi-finals, with Dembélè knocking out Salah in the Round of 16 before winning the entire competition. Additionally, Raphinha and Dembélè won domestic trebles, something that eluded Salah as he failed to win the Carabao and FA Cup. 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, Rodri, showed how the trophy favors team awards over individual flair.
Despite the doubts, Salah’s most recent PFA trophy may tilt the tide in his favor. To win the Player of the Year once is challenging, but to win it three times is unheard of. His consistency and domination in one of the toughest leagues echo how elite Salah is, perfect for how prestigious the Ballon d’Or is. He represents the perfect balance of playmaking, selflessness, and humility.
