Manchester City star Kevin de Bruyne has been labelled as Belgium’s best player ever following his third-place achievement in the Ballon D’Or.
The Belgian midfielder was ranked as the third best player in the voting last night, finishing behind Sadio Mane and winner Karim Benzema.
He found himself ahead on numerous big names in European football, including the likes of Thibaut Courtois and Luka Modric, both of whom won La Liga and the Champions League last season.
Kevin de Bruyne could only win the Premier League with Manchester City last season, with his side suffering defeat in the Champions League semi-finals.
He was again a key player in that league success, though, with 15 goals and eight assists in 30 appearances continuing to add to his already impressive tally.
His performances for Manchester City earned him his third placed ranking among the Ballon D’Or voters and journalist Ludo Vanderwalle believes that result has established him as the best Belgian footballer of all time.
“Is it really official now? Kevin de Bruyne is the best Belgian footballer of all time,” he wrote for Het Nieuwsblad.
“And above all: there was never a better Belgian footballer than the now 31-year-old. The status De Bruyne has now achieved is historic. Hence this tribute.
“The fact that the high-blond guy from Drongen is now getting appreciation all over the world when he only brought in the Premier League as a collective prize says a lot about his worth.
“We say even more: if Courtois in that miraculous Real Madrid-Manchester City semi-final did not turn that Grealish shot with his foot in extremis, on Monday Kevin De Bruyne might have been shining on the highest podium with a Golden Ball.
“The 93-time international is the ultimate team player, at his best even terrifying in his perfection.
“His talent unfolded in all facets and all at the very highest level. He has already gifted Manchester City four league titles in five years. In the most high-profile league in the world.
“If you don’t realise by then that our country has produced a historic footballer, you will never realise it. Those in the know knew it for some time.”
