Moroccan midfielder Mehdi Carcela receives the Belgian Lion Award

Moroccan-Belgian professional footballer Mehdi Carcela received, Monday, for the third time the Belgian Lion Award, a football award in Belgium given annually to the best Arab origin player in the Belgian First Division A.

Carcela was granted the same award in 2018 and in 2015, reports Belgian newspaper DHnet. The midfielder was handed the award by State Secretary of the Brussels-Capital Region Fadila Laanan.

In January, 29-year-old Carcela was ranked second by the Belgian Golden Shoe, an award given in Belgium at the beginning of each civil year to the best footballer of the Belgian first division for the past year. However, Carcela couldn't make it to the gala during which Belgian footballer Hans Vanaken was awarded the 65th Golden Shoe.

On Monday, Moroccan-Belgian professional footballer Marouane Fellaini was named as the country’s best Arab origin player.