Picking a winner in 2025 isn't just about stats; it's about the story. And all three of these guys have a serious claim. As a football content creator, this is the kind of debate I live for.
1. The Ageless Wonder: Mohamed Salah (Egypt / Liverpool)
You just can't have this conversation without Mo.
Honestly, we’ve become so used to his greatness that we almost take it for granted. The man is a walking 25-goal, 15-assist season. Even as he’s gotten older, his game has just evolved. He's still the main man for Liverpool, dragging them to that FA Cup win back in May and securing Champions League football almost single-handedly.
The Case FOR Him: Unmatched individual numbers. He is still, without question, one of the top five attackers on the planet. He's the standard of elite consistency.
The Case AGAINST Him: The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. It’s the elephant in the room. Egypt’s quarter-final exit was a massive disappointment, and Salah just wasn't the explosive, game-breaking force we needed him to be. In a year with this much competition, that stings.
2. The History Maker: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / PSG)
A defender on this list? You know he had to do something special.
Hakimi is redefining what it means to be a "superstar." He’s not just a right-back; he’s a playmaker, a leader, and the engine of a continent’s hopes.
His 2025 has been insane. He was a rock as PSG stormed to the Champions League final, and he obviously won Ligue 1 (though, let’s be honest, we expect that). But his real case is Morocco. After the 2022 World Cup miracle, the pressure was on. He put that team on his back and captained them all the way to the AFCON final.
The Case FOR Him: He’s the most complete "total footballer" of the three. He reached the final of both the Champions League and the AFCON. That is a massive, continent-leading achievement for a defender.
The Case AGAINST Him: Did he win either of those big finals? No. And at PSG, he’s still playing second fiddle to Mbappé (and now others). Is he the best player, or the player on the best-performing teams?
3. The Reigning King: Victor Osimhen (Nigeria / Napoli)
And then, we have the man himself. The 2023 winner. The King of Naples.
After that historic 2023, everyone asked, "Can he do it again?" His answer? An emphatic yes.
He didn't win Serie A again, but he was arguably even better. He single-handedly dragged Napoli to a top-4 finish and was the top scorer in the entire league again.
But his masterpiece was the 2025 AFCON. My goodness. While Hakimi’s Morocco was the better team, Osimhen was the tournament's best player. He was a force of nature, winning the Golden Boot and carrying a good, not great, Nigeria squad to the semi-finals. He left everything on that pitch.
The Case FOR Him: He won the AFCON Golden Boot and the Serie A Golden Boot in the same year. He delivered for club and for country, individually.
The Case AGAINST Him: Trophies. Unlike Hakimi, he didn't win a domestic league or reach a major final. He has the individual awards, but not the team hardware this year.
The Verdict: Who Really Deserves It?
This is where it gets tough, and I know this might be controversial.
You can't give it to Salah. The individual stats are amazing, but the AFCON failure is too big to ignore when the other two went so deep.
It comes down to Hakimi vs. Osimhen. The Team Hero vs. The Individual Beast.
Hakimi’s run to two major finals is incredible. But he lost both.
Victor Osimhen, on the other hand, won the two biggest individual prizes available to him: Serie A Top Scorer and AFCON Top Scorer.
In football, team trophies are the ultimate goal, but the "Player of the Year" award has to go to the player who was, quite simply, the most dominant. This year, that man was Victor Osimhen. He proved he wasn't a one-season wonder; he's the real deal.
For me, the king stays the king.
My Pick: Victor Osimhen
But that’s just my take. Who do you think earned it this year?
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