Cole Palmer and Mohamed Salah Headline List of Premier League Fantasy Football Icons

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) has seen numerous players deliver exceptional value and memorable performances since its inception in the 2002-03 season. A recent ranking has identified the most iconic players, considering both statistical impact and the "sentiment" of their contributions, with Chelsea's Cole Palmer and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah topping the list.

Palmer's 2023-24 season is highlighted as the best value in FPL history. Beginning the season as a £5m midfielder and not starting until gameweek seven, Palmer's performances quickly escalated. He finished as the season's top scorer with 244 points, earning the largest price rise in FPL history, eventually costing £10.5m at the start of the 2024-25 campaign. His 26-point haul against Everton in gameweek 33, where he scored four goals, saw him owned by over five million managers.

Mohamed Salah is recognized for his consistent premium value, particularly during his record-breaking 2024-25 season, where he amassed 344 points. Despite a lower score the previous year, Salah has achieved over 200 points in eight seasons and is the only player to have topped 300 points twice. Other Liverpool assets like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, and Luis Suarez for his 2013-14 season, are also noted for their significant FPL contributions.

The list also features Riyad Mahrez, whose performance during Leicester City's title-winning 2015-16 season saw him score 240 points despite a modest £5.5m starting price. Mahrez began the campaign with a 15-point haul and was in over 50% of teams by gameweek seven.

Michu is remembered as an epitome of a cult hero, earning 190 points in the 2012-13 season. Initially a relative unknown, he was classified as a midfielder but often played as a striker, scoring 18 goals and seeing his price rise by £2m. He is considered by some as the biggest one-season wonder in FPL history.

John Lundstram of Sheffield United earned legendary status in the 2019-20 season, primarily due to his £4m price tag and an "out-of-position" listing. Classified as a defender but playing box-to-box, he scored five goals and provided four assists for 144 points, allowing managers to allocate more budget to other areas of their squad.

Michail Antonio of West Ham is noted for his incredible form following the league restart in July 2020. Deployed as a striker despite a midfield classification, he scored eight goals in seven appearances that month, including a 26-point haul against Norwich City, which was the joint-highest for a player valued under £7m at the time.

Stuart Dallas of Leeds United provided significant value in the 2020-21 season at a £4.5m price. Despite being listed as a defender, he frequently played as an attacking midfielder, contributing eight goals, three assists, and 12 clean sheets for a total of 171 points.

Harry Kane's 2014-15 season is also recognized for his emergence as a bargain. Starting at £5m as a backup striker, Kane scored 21 goals in the Premier League that season, earning 191 points and ranking highly on the all-time value list despite limited minutes.

Thierry Henry, Frank Lampard, and Cristiano Ronaldo are mentioned for their consistent high scoring and top-performer status in early seasons, with Henry being top scorer in three of the first four campaigns, Lampard topping the charts three times, and Ronaldo achieving it twice. However, the ranking prioritizes value and unexpected impact over these more obvious premium picks.