Despite being Africa’s highest-ranked player in the global vote, the Egyptian star is overlooked by CAF in favor of the PSG full-back.
In a surprising turn of events, Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah has been beaten to the prestigious 2025 African Footballer of the Year award, despite being the continent’s highest-ranked player in the recent Ballon d’Or vote.
The annual CAF prize was instead awarded to Paris Saint-Germain full-back, Achraf Hakimi.
The result presents a clear paradox, as Salah was voted into fourth place for the 2025 Ballon d’Or globally in September, ahead of Hakimi who finished sixth.
This suggests that CAF voters prioritized collective success when assessing the continent’s top talent.
The Champions League Factor: Why Hakimi Overcame Mohamed Salah’s Stellar Stats
Salah enjoyed one of the greatest individual seasons in English football, the “Egyptian King” recording a remarkable 29 Premier League goals and a further 18 assists in just 38 appearances for Liverpool.
However, the Reds fell short in domestic cups and suffered an early elimination from the Champions League in the Round of 16—at the hands of Hakimi’s PSG, no less.
Hakimi, the former Real Madrid defender, had the most prolific campaign of his career in 2024–25. He played 55 times across all competitions as PSG finally achieved their elusive goal, completing a historic Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Champions League treble.
His attacking contributions were immense, with 11 goals and 16 assists, meaning he was directly involved in a goal in almost every other game.
It is evident that the CAF voters placed a higher value on Hakimi’s treble-winning season than on Salah’s outstanding individual statistics, with European glory likely being the decisive factor.
Upon receiving the award, the Madrid-born player, who was raised in a Moroccan household, highlighted the significance of the achievement: “It’s really an honour for me to win this prestigious trophy. This trophy is not just for me—it is for all the Africans that have dreams.”
