Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been named the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) men’s player of the year, becoming the first player in history to win the accolade three times.

Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers collected the young player of the year award, while former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate received the PFA merit award for his service to the game.

Salah, 33, played a pivotal role in Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph last season, topping the scoring charts with 29 goals and registering 18 assists.

The Egypt international had already swept up individual honours, including the Premier League player of the season and the Football Writers’ Association footballer of the year, but the PFA award, voted for by fellow professionals, carries a particular resonance.

Reflecting on his journey from Nagrig, a small village in Egypt, to global superstardom, Salah said:

“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.”

Salah saw off competition from Liverpool team-mate Alexis Mac Allister, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, Chelsea forward Cole Palmer and Arsenal’s Declan Rice.

For Rogers, the award capped a breakout season in which the 22-year-old midfielder became a driving force in Aston Villa’s push for European qualification.

Southgate, meanwhile, was recognised for guiding England to consecutive European Championship finals and his broader contribution to the national side.

Salah’s latest honour underscores not only his enduring brilliance but also his place among the Premier League’s modern greats.