Chelsea's Kante pips Hazard to win PFA Player of the Year award
Score one for defensive-minded players everywhere. The attackers don't get all the plaudits, after all.
Chelsea's indefatigable tackling machine N'Golo Kante, the midfield engine powering the Blues' run to the title this season - after doing the same for Leicester City last year - was rewarded for his consistent excellence, the dynamic Frenchman being named the PFA Player of the Year on Sunday.
The Men's PFA Players' Player of of the Year goes to....@ChelseaFC's @nglkante! Congratulations! #PFAawards pic.twitter.com/fK64Op8MVH
— PFA (@PFA) April 23, 2017
"It means the world to me," Kante said of winning the award. "To be chosen as the Player of the Year is a great honour."
The 26-year-old beat out teammate Eden Hazard for the prize; Tottenham striker Harry Kane, Everton talisman Romelu Lukaku, Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez were also nominated.
Related: Chelsea, Spurs stars headline PFA Team of the Year
But Kante, who has garnered praise from all angles for his tireless performances at the heart of Antonio Conte's midfield, emerged a worthy victor, adding the Premier League's most prestigious individual award to a personal trophy cabinet that also boasts two consecutive nods on the PFA team of the season.
Congratulations to @nglkante on being voted @PFA footballer of the year. Thoroughly deserved honour. An astonishing player.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) April 23, 2017
He becomes the third player from the west London side to claim the hardware, following in the footsteps of outgoing Chelsea captain John Terry (2004-05) and Hazard (2014-15).
With the individual accolade in tow, the little Frenchman - who took to Twitter to thank his teammates for helping him win the award - will no doubt be hoping to close out the campaign with another Premier League title and an FA Cup crown.