Mohamed Salah has edged out Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane and Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to be crowned African Player of the Year for 2017.
The Egypt international saw off strong competition from his peers at Thursday evening's Confederation of African Football awards gala in Accra.
Salah, who has been ruled out of the Reds' FA Cup third-round tie against Everton on Friday night, enjoyed an impressive year at both international and club level.
After scoring 10 times for Roma between January and May, the 25-year-old joined Liverpool in a then-club-record move and has quickly settled in by netting a further 24 goals in all competitions.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Salah told reporters: "I think we have a good national team and we did very well in the Africa Cup and qualification for World Cup.
"We deserved that, everyone saw that and I am very happy and very excited for the World Cup and I am very sure we are going to do something special at the World Cup."
Salah also found the net twice in Egypt's 2-1 victory over Congo in their World Cup qualifier in October to ensure that his national side will compete in this summer's finals for the first time in 28 years.
Daniel Lewis
