Mohamed Salah and Mariona Caldentey named PFA players of year

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has won a record third Professional Footballers’ Association Men’s Player of the Year award, with Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey collecting the women’s accolade.

The 33-year-old Egypt international scored 29 goals and provided 18 assists as Arne Slot’s Reds stormed to last season’s Premier League title.

Salah’s stunning form in 2024/25 saw him dominate the voting by the PFA’s membership and enter the history books as the first three-time Player of the Year winner.

The PFA crown complements the record-equalling third Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award picked up earlier in the year.

“I look at myself now, a guy coming from Egypt and making it to the top level, making history today, it’s something that makes me so proud,” Salah said as he was presented with the award at a ceremony in Manchester.

After a busy summer of transfers at Anfield but also the tragic death of Diogo Jota, Salah was asked if this season’s team is even stronger than last year’s.

“No,” Salah said with a smile. “You can’t say yes or no, it’s tricky. You’re signing very good, talent and also we lets some great players leave and you also know what happened with one our team-mates.

“So you need to give your experience to the new players because they’ve never played for Liverpool and playing for Liverpool is not easy at all, with all the media and everything at the club. It’s a huge pressure for the young players.

“Virgil (van Dijk), me and all the guys in the team try to give them the experience to help them.”

PFA Women’s Player of the Year Caldentey, 29, moved to Arsenal last summer and scored 19 goals in all competitions, including eight on the Gunners’ way to lifting the Champions League with a victory in