Ever sat in a pub and tried to explain why your favorite midfielder didn't win the big one? It’s a mess. Honestly, the Barclays Premier League Player of the Season—or the EA SPORTS Player of the Season as it’s officially dubbed these days—is the one trophy that turns every football fan into a part-time detective. We look at goals. We look at "aura." Then we realize the voting panel probably looked at a spreadsheet of progressive carries and expected assists ($xA$) that we didn't even know existed.
Most people think it’s just a popularity contest. It isn't. Not exactly. While fans do get a say, their vote only counts for 10% of the total. The rest is handled by a panel of "experts" and, interestingly, the club captains. Imagine having to vote for the guy who just nutmegged you and put three past your keeper. That takes some serious professional respect.
Who Actually Runs the Show?
Back in the day, the award was synonymous with Barclays. From 2004 to 2016, if you were the best, you held that blue trophy with the lion. Now, EA SPORTS is the lead partner, but the "Barclays" name still hangs around the conversation like a ghost of football past. It’s a legacy thing.
The process is kinda complex. You've got a mix of:
- Premier League legends (think Alan Shearer and Rio Ferdinand).
- The 20 club captains.
- A handful of journalists who spend more time at training grounds than their own homes.
- The public (that's us).
The winner is usually announced in the second or third week of May. It’s that weird time when the sun is out, the pitch is dry, and everyone is either crying about relegation or planning a trophy parade.
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The Salah Era and the Two-Timer Club
We just watched Mohamed Salah do something pretty ridiculous. In the 2024-25 season, the Egyptian King didn't just win; he dominated. He became the first player ever to win the Golden Boot, the Playmaker award (most assists), AND the Player of the Season in a single campaign. Basically, he completed the Premier League.
Salah is now part of an elite group. Only five players have ever won this award twice. It’s a short list, and it’s terrifyingly good:
- Thierry Henry: The man who made defending look like a hobby.
- Cristiano Ronaldo: The only person to win it back-to-back (2007, 2008).
- Nemanja Vidić: Because sometimes, being a brick wall is better than scoring goals.
- Kevin De Bruyne: The ginger wizard of Manchester City.
- Mohamed Salah: The man who apparently refuses to age.
It’s actually wild that someone like Steven Gerrard or Wayne Rooney never won it twice. Rooney only has one (2010). Gareth Bale has one (2013). Even Erling Haaland, who broke almost every scoring record in existence in 2023, only has his debut season trophy so far.
Why the "Best" Player Often Loses
Here is the thing. Football isn't played on a calculator, but the people voting often use them. You can score 30 goals, but if your team finishes 6th, you’re probably not getting the Barclays Premier League Player of the Season.
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Take a look at Juninho Paulista. He won it in 1996-97 while playing for Middlesbrough. Middlesbrough got relegated that year. Think about that for a second. He was so good that the league said, "Your team is terrible and literally leaving the division, but you're still the best individual we've seen all year." That hasn't happened since. Usually, you need a winner's medal around your neck to even be considered.
In 2021, Rúben Dias won it as a center-back. That was a big deal. Usually, the flashy strikers get all the love, but Dias changed the "vibe" of the City defense so much that people couldn't ignore it. It shows the panel is willing to look past the scoresheet if the impact is big enough.
The 2025/26 Season Watchlist
We are currently deep into the 2025-26 cycle, and the race is wide open. If you’re looking at who might take the crown next, keep an eye on these names:
- Erling Haaland: Always the favorite. If he stays fit, he’s a cheat code.
- Virgil van Dijk: Still the gold standard for defenders.
- Igor Thiago: Making serious waves this year with his goal-scoring consistency.
- Bruno Fernandes: If United actually find some form, he’s usually the heart of it.
The Snub Factor: What Really Matters
The biggest misconception? That stats are everything. If stats were everything, Salah would have won it five times by now.
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Narrative matters. People love a "comeback" or a "breakout." In 2023-24, Phil Foden won because he stepped up when De Bruyne was injured. He carried the creative load for the champions. That story—the local lad becoming the main man—is catnip for the voting panel.
Honestly, the Barclays Premier League Player of the Season is as much about feeling as it is about football. It’s about who defined the year. Who was the player you couldn't stop talking about at work? Who was the one player opposing fans actually feared?
What to Do With This Information
If you're trying to predict the next winner or just want to win an argument with your mates, focus on these three things:
- Check the League Table: If their team isn't in the top three, their chances drop by about 80%.
- Look for "Big Game" Moments: The panel remembers goals against Liverpool or Arsenal way more than a hat-trick against a promoted side.
- The Captain's Vote: Keep an eye on which players are praised by their peers in post-match interviews. That's a huge hint toward where the captains' votes are going.
Go back and look at the history of winners since 1995. You'll see a pattern of dominance, but also these weird outliers like Kevin Phillips at Sunderland or Jamie Vardy during the Leicester miracle. That’s the beauty of it. It’s not just about being the most expensive; it’s about being the most indispensable.
Next time you see the shortlist drop in May, don't just look at the top scorer. Look at the player who changed the way their team played. That’s usually where the trophy ends up.