Salah, Russo win FWA footballer of the year awards

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Arsenal’s Alessia Russo have been named the Football Writers’ Association Men’s and Women’s Players of the Season.

Salah played a pivotal role in Liverpool’s Premier League title win, scoring 28 goals and registering 18 assists—setting a new record for the most goal involvements in a 38-game league campaign. The 32-year-old also contributed three goals and four assists in the Champions League, helping Liverpool reach the last 16. He recently signed a new two-year contract to remain at Anfield until 2027.

Salah secured 90% of the vote from over 900 FWA members, the highest margin of victory this century.

Liverpool teammate, Virgil van Dijk finished second in the voting, with Newcastle’s Alexander Isak third and Arsenal’s Declan Rice fourth. Salah now joins Thierry Henry as the only players to win the FWA award three times.

On the women’s side, Alessia Russo beat out last year’s winner Khadija Shaw to become just the second Arsenal player to receive the honour.

Russo has scored 12 goals and provided two assists in the Women’s Super League this season, with Arsenal trailing leaders Chelsea by 12 points ahead of the final matchday. She has also been instrumental in Arsenal’s run to the Women’s Champions League final, contributing eight goals and two assists across 14 matches.

Arsenal will face defending champions Barcelona in the final on 24 May in Lisbon.

Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey finished third in the FWA voting while Chelsea defender Millie Bright came fourth.