Hazard came out on top in an Internet poll organised by his country's national federation, earning 10,280 votes to succeed Dries Mertens as the Belgian national team's top man.

That put him well ahead of De Bruyne, who polled 4,710 votes, with Lukaku third on 3,223.

Hazard wins despite suffering an ankle fracture on international duty last season, which meant he played just half of Belgium's 10 fixtures in 2017, scoring four times and providing two assists.

Hazard's Chelsea teammates Michy Batshuayi and Thibaut Courtois were also in the running for the award along with Lukaku's United teammate Marouane Fellaini, Napoli's Dries Mertens, Crystal Palace forward Christian Benteke, Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen and West Bromwich Albion's Nacer Chadli.