Mohamed Salah has consistently been one of the best players in the world since his move to Liverpool, but he has not been recognised as such in Africa since 2018.
Salah was last named African Footballer of the Year in 2018, when he became the first player since Yaya Toure to win it consecutively following his inaugural crown in 2017.
The Egypt captain has scored 177 goals and assisted 89 in 309 games for Liverpool in the last six-plus seasons since, winning the Premier League (twice), FA Cup, Carabao Cup (twice), UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup during that time.
But he finished runner-up to Sadio Mane in both the 2019 and 2022 awards, third when Victor Osimhen won it 2023 and failed to place in the top three as Ademola Lookman picked up the prize last year.
Liverpool’s No. 11 has again been nominated for his efforts in 2025 and could be considered the favourite on a 10-man shortlist:
• Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Napoli)
• Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles FC)
• Serhou Guirassy (Dortmund)
• Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)
• Oussama Lamlioui (Renaissance Berkane)
• Fiston Mayele (Pyramids)
• Iliman Ndiaye (Everton)
• Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray)
• Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
• Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham)
PSG right-back Hakimi is his most likely challenger, with the Moroccan winning five trophies last season as well as reaching the final of the Club World Cup over the summer.
But with Salah also in the running for the Ballon d’Or it could be seen as his year to become a three-time African Footballer of the Year.
Only four players have won the prize three or more times, those being Toure (four), Samuel Eto’o (four), George Weah (three) and Abedi Pele (three).
Salah is currently tied with Mane, Didier Drogba, Roger Milla, Thomas N’Kono, Nwankwo Kanu and El Hadji Diouf as the award’s other multiple-time winners with two apiece. No player has made the podium more times than Drogba (nine).
Asked about his winger’s chances of lifting the prize following Liverpool’s win over Frankfurt on Wednesday night, Arne Slot said: “Hakimi had a great season, but I don’t think there has ever been a player who has more goals and assists in the Premier League than Mo did last season.
“So that’s probably more than special. But it’s up to other people to decide who should win.
“If you want to have my vote, I would vote for Mo Salah. Africa has a lot of good players, Hakimi and Mo are two of them and Osimhen as well.
“But I would give it to Mo if I had to vote.”
Fan Comments