Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka has clinched the title of England men’s player of the year for the second consecutive year. The accolade was announced by the FA on Tuesday.
The youngster was voted England’s brightest talent in 2022, over other incredibly brilliant players, the most notable among them being Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham, and former Tottenham centre-forward Harry Kane, who recently secured a move to German champions Bayern Munich.
Saka, who made his maiden appearance for the English national team in October 2020, delivered a remarkable performance over the past 12 months. During this period, he netted an impressive seven goals in just 10 appearances for the Three Lions, a testament to his growing influence on the international stage. His standout moment came at the 2022 World Cup, where he contributed three crucial goals as Gareth Southgate’s men reached the quarter-finals before losing to France.
Saka’s exceptional contributions were lauded with the “Player of the Match” title in England’s impressive 6-2 victory over Iran in Qatar. This distinction was further reinforced in the Euro 2024 qualifiers, where the Arsenal star claimed the honour once again thanks to his stupendous performances in matches against Ukraine and North Macedonia. The latter game, in particular, witnessed a historic moment in Saka’s career as he secured his first-ever career hat-trick.
The news was revealed to the Gunners mainstay during a training session for the national side at the training facility in St.George’s Park. Saka is currently with the Three Lions side as they prepare for the qualifiers of the 2024 European champions. Earlier, the 22-year-old was also adjudged to be the Young Footballer of the Year by the Professional Footballers’ Association, where Manchester City forward Erling Haaland took the top honour.
