Riyad Mahrez – PFA Player of the Year, Plus His Boots

With 17 goals and 11 assists to his name to date this season, it was announced last night that Riyad Mahrez had won PFA player of the year. Leicester’s Algerian playmaker held off competition from Dimitri Payet, Harry Kane, Mesut Ozil and fellow Leicester men Jamie Vardy and N’Golo Kante to win the award, but dedicated the success to his team-mates. It is very much a well deserved award, yet his name doesn’t stand out quite as much as previous winners!

Back in September, we highlighted his boot choice and inclusion in an ever increasing, youthful line-up of Nike players. Through the season, he has continually worn the Nike Hypervenom Phantom II, switching between the latest color releases. In terms of the boot, he is the perfect player to highlight what the agility style boot is all about. Built with a dynamic mid-cut collar, off center heel cut and strategically mapped Magwire, the Hypervenom Phantom is designed for attacking players who are deceptive by nature on the field. Mahrez is most definitely deceptive, with the ability to cut in off the right flank using both feet, thus his goal and assist return.

But seriously, who’d have thought a Leicester player who cost less than $1million and was told he was “too small, too slow and too frail” would win EPL PFA player of the year? I certainly didn’t. If you are in need of a new player to watch, study and admire to improve your game, I think you’ve found him!

Find the entire Hypervenom Phantom II line-up, plus sale boots, at soccer.com.