Manchester United's Dutch striker, who has scored 33 goals in all competitions this season, immediately hailed it as the proudest moment of his career.

Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy was voted the PFA's Young Player of the Year ahead of Bolton's Michael Ricketts and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard.

Van Nistelrooy received the award from Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier, the PFA's guest of honour, at London's Grosvenor House Hotel on Sunday.

He came out ahead of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, David Beckham and Roy Keane after PFA members voted for their top player this season.

Henry came second while Arsenal team-mate Pires was third.

Van Nistelrooy admitted he was overjoyed just to be playing at the highest level after overcoming a career-threatening knee injury to finally move to Old Trafford last summer.

Van Nistelrooy became the second successive United striker to pick up the award - following in the footsteps of Teddy Sheringham last year - and afterwards spoke of his pride.

He said: "This is the proudest moment so far in my career. I have been voted by the players of the Premier League and that is the best league in Europe at the moment.

"Playing for Manchester United is a fantastic feeling but then again so is just playing because when I was injured there were doubts I would play again."

One of the highlights of a fantastic season for the Dutchman was becoming the first player to score in eight consecutive Premiership matches.