Bukayo Saka has reclaimed his title as England’s player of the year for the second consecutive season. The dynamic Arsenal winger, who celebrated his 22nd birthday just this Tuesday, emerged victorious in the fan poll, securing his grasp on the accolade he first earned in the 2021–22 season.
Jude Bellingham, who moved to Real Madrid recently, followed closely behind in second place, while the England captain and record-breaking goal scorer, Harry Kane, took the third spot.
Born to Yoruba Nigerian parents, Saka has left an indelible mark on the international stage, netting an impressive seven goals in just 10 appearances over the past year. Notably, he achieved his first-ever career hat-trick during a spectacular 7-0 triumph against North Macedonia at the Old Trafford stadium.
His prowess continued to shine at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where he delivered a stellar performance, scoring three goals for the Three Lions. This included a memorable brace in the sensational 6-2 victory against Iran during the group stage and a crucial goal in the 3-0 last-16 triumph over Senegal.
With 11 England goals in his tally across 28 caps, Saka’s excellence on the field is undeniable. As he continues to impress, Saka finds himself once again in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the upcoming European Championship qualifier against Ukraine in Wroclaw and a friendly clash with Scotland in Glasgow scheduled for next Tuesday.
In a delightful video shared by the England national team on social media, fellow Three Lions teammate, James Maddison playfully teased Saka, promising to gift him a Tottenham scarf for his birthday. However, as one might expect, Saka graciously declined the offer, humorously assuring Maddison that he’d promptly return such a present.
Saka Reveals Why He Rejected Nigeria for England
Saka firmly believes that his decision to decline Nigeria’s national team in favor of representing England was the right one, primarily due to the remarkable transformation of the Three Lions under the guidance of Gareth Southgate.
Reflecting on his choice back in 2020, Saka explained his decision, stating, ‘I feel like I’m really, really proud of my Nigerian heritage. I always still watch Nigeria’s games where I can and I wish them all the best and support them all the way.
‘But I’ve seen the process of how England are transforming and I think in the future they’re going to do great stuff. I feel like it was right for me to choose England.
‘My dad was born here, my mum was born in Nigeria, but they both grew up in Nigeria and met each other in Nigeria. They came over and when they came to England, it wasn’t easy for them because, obviously, it’s a new country. It’s really cold for them!
But they adapted well, and as soon as they had me and my brother, they always left everything out the way and put us first.
‘Especially my football career, my dad always pushed me, he took me to training on days where sometimes it would take two hours to get to training, so I’ll always be so grateful for my parents for the work they’ve done for me.’