Salah broke into the top three for the second time, having finished third behind winner Luka Modric and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018.

The award is voted for by the coaches of all women's/men's national teams, one specialist journalist from each territory represented by a national team and fans registered on FIFA.com, the world governing body said.

Salah has had another remarkable year despite some struggles for Liverpool.

Liverpool were unable to mount a serious Premier League challenge in the 2020-21 season but Salah ensured the team fulfilled the bare minimum as he played an instrumental role in guiding them to a fourth-place finish and a UEFA Champions League spot.

He scored 22 goals, narrowly missing out on league's top scorer award as Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane pipped him with 23 goals.

Salah then exploded in the new season, which he opened with a goal against Norwich City in August to become the first player to score on the opening weekend in five consecutive Premier League campaigns.

By the end of the year, his 15 goals put him on top of the Premier League's scoring chart. They were defined by some breathtaking strikes, including brilliant solo goals against the likes of Watford and Manchester City that had the fans purring.

He also netted a remarkable hat-trick against Manchester United, the first by any away player at the Old Trafford, as Liverpool claimed a stunning 5-0 victory in October. His three goals on an unforgettable night saw him set two records in the process.

He became the leading African scorer in Premier League history with 107 goals, three ahead of former Ivory Coast and Chelsea marksman Didier Drogba, and the first in Liverpool's history to score in 10 consecutive games.

It was not the only record-breaking day in 2021. In September, Salah became the fastest player to score 100 Premier League goals for Liverpool after finding the net in a 3-0 victory over Leeds on his 162nd league appearance.

In December, the 29-year-old scored in a 3-1 comeback win over Newcastle to match Jamie Vardy's record of scoring or setting up a goal in 15 straight Premier League appearances.

Salah, who laughed when asked about his seventh-place finish in the France Football's famed Ballon d'Or award, will be looking to make amends in FIFA's Best prize, in which he stands a good chance of making history.

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