Bale, koji je već bio igrač godine 2011., ove sezone je za Tottenham postigao 22 gola, te još pet za reprezentaciju Walesa. Najveći konkurenti u borbi za nagradu bit će mu napadači Robin van Persie (Manchester United) i Luis Suarez (Liverpool). Van Persie je zabio 25 golova u svojoj prvoj sezoni za klub sa Old Trafforda, dok je Suarez 29 puta bio strijelac.
Među nominiranima za igrača godine su i Juan Mata te Eden Hazard (oba Chelsea) i Michael Carrick (Manchester United). Dobitnik nagrade bit će objavljen 28. travnja.
Dobitnici nagrade za igrača godine:
1989–90: David Platt (Aston Villa)
1990–91: Mark Hughes (Manchester United)
1991–92: Gary Pallister (Manchester United)
1992–93: Paul McGrath (Aston Villa)
1993–94: Eric Cantona (Manchester United)
1994–95: Alan Shearer (Blackburn)
1995–96: Les Ferdinand (Newcastle)
1996–97: Alan Shearer (Newcastle)
1997–98: Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal)
1998–99: David Ginola (Tottenham)
1999–00: Roy Keane (Manchester United)
2000–01: Teddy Sheringham (Manchester United)
2001–02: Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United)
2002–03: Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
2003–04: Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
2004–05: John Terry (Chelsea)
2005–06: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
2006–07: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
2007–08: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
2008–09: Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)
2009–10: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
2010–11: Gareth Bale (Tottenham)
2011–12: Robin van Persie (Arsenal)