Chelsea’s Eden Hazard has been awarded ‘Best Belgian footballer playing abroad in 2017’.
He beat Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne, Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku, Napoli’s Dries Mertens and Chelsea teammate Thibaut Courtois to the prestigious award.
Hazard was chosen as the winner by a selection of Belgian journalists, football figures and former winners.
Hazard, 27, won the award with 326 points, 11 votes over second-placed De Bruyne, who won the previous two awards.
Mertens, Lukaku and Courtois make up the top five.
Speaking after winning the award, Hazard said: “It’s my first trophy in Belgium, but hopefully not my last!’
‘I’m aiming to win the World Cup or the European Championships with Belgium.
“I’m happy with the trophy, but it’s not the most important thing. Football is a collective sport. I would like to thank all my team-mates at Chelsea and the national team, the managers and also those who’ve helped me in the last year.”
Chelsea teammate, Courtois, who has won the award twice, presented the award to Hazard at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.