Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne was on Sunday named the PFA Player of the Year, becoming only the third player to win the award for two consecutive seasons.
Following in the footsteps of Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo, De Bruyne receives the award in recognition for another stellar campaign in which the Belgian was integral to City's runaway Premier League title triumph and the club's fourth successive League Cup.
De Bruyne, 29, also played a key role in City's march to the Champions League final, although his involvement in the game against Chelsea was cut short after a collision with Antonio Rudiger left him with with two fractures to his face. He is now racing to be fit for the start of Belgium's Euro 2020 campaign, which starts against Russia on Saturday.
"You want to win all the trophies with the team and then obviously if you win a trophy like this, this is probably the most important one as an individual trophy in the league," De Bruyne said.
"To be voted by your competitors who you compete with every game, that says a lot. They are the people, in my view, who know the most about the game and they are trying to get to the best level.
"When you have these things, you can show your kids and say, 'Look, this is what daddy did when he was younger'."
De Bruyne scored 10 goals and provided 18 assists in 40 appearances across all competitions for City this season. He was joined on the six-player shortlist by City teammates Phil Foden, Ilkay Gundogan and Ruben Dias as well as Tottenham striker Harry Kane and Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes.
Dias was crowned the Football Writers' Association player of the year, while Foden capped a superb campaign by being named PFA men's young player of the year.
Chelsea's Mason Mount, Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, West Ham's Declan Rice and Manchester United's Mason Greenwood were all on the shortlist for the young player prize.
"I'm really honoured," Foden said in a PFA video. "There have been some great players in the past that have won it and I feel really lucky to win it because there have been so many great young talents this year. It's a special moment."
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Manchester City 2020/21 season player ratings
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MANCHESTER CITY 2020/21 RATINGS: Pep Guardiola 8.5 - After his worst start to a season as manager, 2020/21 ended up being one of the finest of the Catalan's trophy-laden career. Guided City on an incredible 21-win streak, retained the League Cup for a fourth-straight season and wrestled back the Premier League trophy from Liverpool. Guided City to a first Champions League final, but got his team selection against Chelsea badly wrong. -
GOALKEEPERS: Ederson 8 - As a last line of defence, few inspire as much confidence. As the first point of attack, fewer are as comfortable passing the ball as the Brazilian. -
Zack Steffen 7 - Took his chances in various cup competitions well. The American pulled off a superb save in the League Cup final to deny Giovani Lo Celso. -
DEFENDERS: Kyle Walker 8 - His power and aggression shows no signs of waning. City's right-back is still a formidable force. EPA -
Ruben Dias 9 - The Portuguese is undoubtedly the signing of the season after joining last summer from Benfica. Has brought a calm and assuredness long missing from City's backline. Named both the club's and FWA Player of the Season. Has improved John Stones as a player, too. Reuters -
John Stones 8 - The writing looked to be on the wall for Stones with Dias signing at the start of 2020/21. But the Englishman has been a colossus for City this term, so much so that Aymeric Laporte has been relegated to back-up. -
Nathan Ake 5 - The Dutchman signed for a reported £41 million from Bournemouth has failed to make an impression during his first season at the Etihad. A centre-back and left-back position was up for grabs at the start of the campaign but others have often been preferred ahead of the former Bournemouth defender. -
Aymeric Laporte 7 - The Frenchman has largely had a watching brief as Dias and Stones formed an impregnable partnership. His headed winner against Tottenham ensured City retained the League Cup for an unprecedented fourth year in a row. AFP -
Benjamin Mendy 6 - The Frenchman has fallen down the pecking order at City and looks a shadow of the rampaging full-back from a few seasons ago. -
Joao Cancelo 8 - Did not look comfortable when asked to operate at left-back in the opening game but the young Portuguese has improved immensely and is also one of City's most potent attacking weapons. Badly missed in the Champions League final. Reuters -
Eric Garcia 4 - Has found first-team opportunities hard to come by and looks on the verge of ending his three-year stay in Manchester. -
MIDFIELDERS: Ilkay Gundogan 9 - Mr Reliable became Mr Spectacular in 2020/21 with some dazzling displays, particularly at the turn of the year in the absence of Kevin de Bruyne. A haul of 12 Premier League goals is impressive and a testament to Guardiola's faith in playing without a recognised No 9. -
Oleksandr Zinchenko 6 - Used sparingly by Guardiola but a tidy operator with the ball. Was outstanding against PSG in the Champions League semi-final second leg. At fault for Kai Havertz's winner in the Champions League final defeat, though. -
Rodri 9 - It's hard to believe the Spain international is still only 24. Commands the middle of the pitch like a gnarled veteran and his omission from the team in Porto against Chelsea raised eyebrows. -
Kevin De Bruyne 9 - The Belgian is quite simply the best passer with either foot in the division. Once again the creative fulcrum in City's march to a fifth Premier League title in nine years. Season ended in heartbreak when he was forced off injured in the Champions League final defeat to Chelsea. -
Bernardo Silva 7 - The Portuguese has failed to match the highs of the previous two seasons but is a workhorse who Guardiola always turns to in big games. -
Fernandinho 7 - the Brazilian picked up a record sixth League Cup winner's medal and his form in the run-in had many banking him for a starting place in the Champions League final. His introduction after an hour showed Guardila got his selection all wrong. AFP -
Riyad Mahrez 9 - If there is a player with a better first touch in the Premier League he is being well hidden. The Algerian's goals have propelled City in their quest for for three trophies, including a brace against PSG that took them to a first Champions League final. -
Phil Foden 9 - The 20-year-old has enjoyed a sensational season to the point that David Silva's departure has barely been noticed. Has a bright future ahead at the Eithad. -
FORWARDS: Raheem Sterling 6 - Has suffered a crisis of confidence, according to his manager, but has still played a huge part in City's success. Anonymous in the Champions League final and substituted midway through the second half despite City needing a goal. -
Gabriel Jesus 7 - Has suffered, for lack of a better word, from Guardiola's use of a false 9 but the Brazilian is one of City's hardest-working players. Reuters -
Sergio Aguero 6 - Injuries and recovery from Covid-19 blighted the Argentine striker's final season at City. The club's record scorer signed off a decade at the club with two Premier League goals on the final day of the season. Will be remembered as one of the league's best ever. -
Ferran Torres 7 - Has adapted well to the demands of the Premier League but looks far more comfortable in a wide position than as a false 9.
