Mahrez on being 1st African to win POTY: 'Drogba never won it?'
Real recognize real.
Riyad Mahrez made history Sunday evening when he was bestowed with the PFA Player of the Year award to commemorate his magical 2015-16 Premier League campaign. The Algerian became the first African to ever claim the honour - a distinction that came as a surprise to the lithe winger.
Related: Riyad Mahrez wins PFA Player of the Year award; 1st African to claim honour
"(Didier) Drogba never won it?" Mahrez asked upon being told he was the continent's first recipient.
Not Drogba. Not Yaya Toure.
The two African icons, who hold between them six Premier League titles and five FA Cup triumphs, have never been formally recognized as the best player in England's top flight, a distinction Mahrez earned by scoring 17 goals coupled with 11 assists (and counting) this season.
The Leicester playmaker extraordinaire, however, was quick to credit his fellow Foxes for his spellbinding performances.
"All the credit is for my team-mates, seriously, and for my manager and the staff," he said. "Without them I wouldn't receive this award and I wouldn't score. It's the team spirit, and I want to dedicate it to them.
"I'm very grateful to receive this award - it's a pleasure. It's extra special because, if the players vote for me, it's because they've seen I've been great this year, so I'm happy."
And it could still get a whole lot better.
Related: 10 photos of Leicester fans losing their minds as Foxes close in on historic title
By virtue of Leicester's 4-0 thumping of Swansea earlier in the day, Mahrez and Co. are now just five points away from completing the most improbable season the Premier League has ever seen with a first title in club history.