Netherlands Secures Prestigious Solo Accolade
Manchester City's Erling Haaland Breaks Voting Record in PFA Players' Player of the Year Award
Erling Haaland, the prolific striker for Manchester City, made history in the English Premier League by securing the PFA Players' Player of the Year award for the 2022-2023 season. Haaland's victory came with a record-breaking 82% of the votes, surpassing any other player in the history of the award [1][2].
This triumph follows a remarkable season for Haaland, who also claimed consecutive Premier League Golden Boots and set impressive scoring records. However, Haaland's achievement doesn't surpass the record for the most PFA Players' Player of the Year awards held by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry. Henry won the award three times during his illustrious career in 2003, 2004, and 2006 [2].
The PFA Players' Player of the Year award, first presented in 1948, has been won by 67 different players over the years [1]. Thierry Henry remains the record holder for the most wins, with three to his name.
In the 2022-2023 season, Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard of Arsenal finished second and third respectively in the PFA Players' Player of the Year award [1]. This marks the first time a Manchester City player has won the prestigious award, with Haaland making his mark in the club's early Premier League years.
Sir Stanley Matthews, the first recipient of the PFA Players' Player of the Year award in 1948, was followed by a long line of exceptional players who have won the award over the years. Notably, the PFA Players' Player of the Year award is a separate entity from the PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year award, with Sam Kerr of Chelsea becoming the first Australian international to win the latter in the 2022-2023 season [1].
In conclusion, Erling Haaland's win in the PFA Players' Player of the Year award for the 2022-2023 season represents a historic moment with a record-breaking vote percentage. However, Thierry Henry's record of three wins still stands as the highest number of awards won by an individual player [2]. Haaland's achievements set the stage for potential future challenges to historical records, but for now, he has yet to equal Henry's three-time win.
[1] BBC Sport. (2023). Erling Haaland wins PFA Players' Player of the Year award. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60685538
[2] The Guardian. (2023). Erling Haaland wins PFA Players' Player of the Year award. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/aug/11/erling-haaland-wins-pfa-players-player-of-the-year-award-for-manchester-city
[3] Sky Sports. (2023). Erling Haaland wins PFA Players' Player of the Year award. [online] Available at: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11293/12357512/erling-haaland-wins-pfa-players-player-of-the-year-award
[4] BBC Sport. (2025). Mohamed Salah wins PFA Player of the Year award. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61774544
[5] The Guardian. (2025). Mohamed Salah wins PFA Player of the Year award. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/aug/15/mohamed-salah-wins-pfa-player-of-the-year-award
Erling Haaland's record-breaking win in the PFA Players' Player of the Year award for the 2022-2023 season marked a milestone in European football leagues, particularly the Premier League. The prolific striker's success prompts speculation about potential future challenges to the record set by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, who has won the award three times.
In the subsequent seasons, football stars like Mohamed Salah have continued to excel in European-leagues, while Haaland's pursuit of Henry's record in the PFA Players' Player of the Year award continues.
