Rio Ferdinand Unveils His Premier League Icons of All Time
Rio Ferdinand Unveils His Top 3 Premier League Icons
Rio Ferdinand swiftly dismissed any suggestions that Mohamed Salah is the greatest player in Premier League history. The Liverpool star has been in unstoppable form this season, leading the Reds’ charge toward the title.
While the former Manchester United defender acknowledged that Salah deserves to be part of the debate, he believes the Egyptian has yet to surpass two of the league’s all-time greats. With Liverpool holding an 11-point lead over second-place Arsenal, Salah has emerged as the frontrunner for the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
At 32, Mohamed Salah continues to defy age, improving with each passing season. He is on track for his most prolific campaign in a Liverpool shirt, having already notched an astonishing 25 goals and 16 assists in the league alone.
Rio Ferdinand Hails Salah’s Brilliance
The former Manchester United defender was full of praise for the Egyptian, ranking him third among the greatest players in Premier League history.
Ferdinand was questioned on TNT Sports about whether Mohamed Salah has now become the greatest player in Premier League history. While the former defender was quick to dismiss that claim, he still heaped praise on the Liverpool superstar.
Speaking to The Mirror, Ferdinand said:
Ferdinand acknowledged Salah’s incredible consistency and statistical dominance, firmly placing him among the Premier League’s top three players of all time. However, he explained that, for him, the greatest players are those with a maverick quality—players who bring excitement and unpredictability.
“Stats-wise and consistency-wise, he is in the conversation, in the top three definitely,” Ferdinand said (per The Mirror). “But in terms of someone who excites me, the maverick—that’s what elevates them for me to be the best. It’s what you like watching. I want someone who will make me squeal. You wouldn’t want to play against Salah though, I’ll say that.”
Even Ferdinand admitted that, based purely on statistics, it’s difficult to dispute Salah’s place among the Premier League’s all-time greats. The former Chelsea winger has racked up 182 goals, ranking him as the league’s sixth-highest scorer—an achievement made even more impressive with plenty of games still ahead in his career.
Salah has also cemented his place among the Premier League’s top 10 assist providers, racking up an impressive 85 assists. His evolution from a rapid winger to a composed, technically gifted forward has played a key role in this transformation.
Ferdinand’s Top Two Premier League Legends
When naming his greatest-ever Premier League players, Ferdinand placed Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of his list.
When first asked about Salah’s place among the Premier League’s greatest, Ferdinand was quick to highlight the two players he considers the best the league has ever seen. While acknowledging Salah’s brilliance, he firmly dismissed the idea that the Egyptian ranks above Thierry Henry or his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
“No chance. He’s not ahead of Henry and Ronaldo,” Ferdinand stated.
Henry remains one of the few players still ahead of Salah in the Premier League goal charts, though that is likely to change by the end of the 2024/25 season—barring an unexpected twist.
While Ronaldo didn’t spend as many years in England as Salah has, he was the last player to win the Ballon d’Or while playing in the Premier League before Rodri claimed the award in 2024.
Premier League Comparison: Mohamed Salah vs. Thierry Henry vs. Cristiano Ronaldo
Category: Appearance: Goals scored: Assists
Mo Salah: 290 182 85
Henry: 258 175 73
Ronaldo: 236 103 _
Data provided by the Premier League, accurate as of February 26, 2025.